Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot 03-14-2021

Small businesses take a front in West Watooka Karen Wallace, a resident of West Watooka, Linden is a farmer and also has a roadside stand where she sells her produce (Carl Croker photo)

SUNDAY MARCH 14, 2021

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Being a ‘Girl Boss’

By Jared Liddell Owner of Sister’s Secret, Daniella Da’Silva

Wanda Campbell, owner of ‘Wonderfully Made’ and ‘Wonderful Creations’

President and Co-founder of VOICE-Guyana, Deanna Walcott

WOMEN have continually been shattering the glass ceiling over the years from becoming CEOs, business owners, leaders of prominent Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and Guyanese women are not exempt from this making their presence known, through the use of their various talents and skills.

A safe space Owner of Sister’s Secret, Daniella Da’Silva, said that her journey with being a girl boss has allowed her access to “be her sisters’ keepers”.

Sister’s Secrets was launched in 2019 with the idea of becoming a safe haven for young girls and women to share their issues and challenges with her feminine hygiene/ self-care store. She added that ‘Sister’s Secrets’ is here to let women know that natural remedies are best for their bodies because the more organic a feminine hygiene product is the better it works along with your body.

The entrepreneur stated that launching her business and interacting with fellow women and providing a space for them to share stories and experiences and normalise the female experience has been one of her greatest achievements so far.

“Being in this position helped me to fulfil a goal I had of providing products and services to women and being a great help and assistance to women. I actually got to achieve that.

And that was one of the biggest things for me especially given

my experiences and reasons for actually staring the business,” said Da’Silva.

Additionally, she stated that she’d like to use her platform to encourage other women to follow their passions and to remember the importance and power of a woman.

She further encouraged them to surround themselves with positive role models, noting that without the unwavering support of her mother and sister Tristell Manifold, owner of she would not have Trisee Luxury Cosmetics been able to achieve the success she has with her business.

Set your priorities Tristell Manifold, owner of Trisee Luxury Cosmetics, stated that she believes that women through their contributions, drive and innovativeness have continued to shatter the glass ceiling and have encouraged other women to do the same.

She stated that a girl boss is someone who takes control and accepts responsibility and keeps working towards achieving her goal, noting that any woman can be a girl boss explaining that it is not exclusive to just entrepreneurs and CEOs. “A girl boss is someone who defines success on her own terms and doesn’t stop until she gets it.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Lure by Shiv Turning bad times into an opportunity for self-love and care

IT was during a period in her life marked by multiple emotionally scarring events that Shivana Persaud made one of her best decisions – one that allows her to lead a life of bliss that obviously radiates in her beaming smile.

It was a decision to start Lure by Shiv - a wellness lifestyle brand that inspires the care of every aspect of one’s being and that was born in celebration of self-love,

with mountainous challenges. “Consistent disrespect, deep manipulation, blatant betrayal, heart-wrenching neglect and bullyism impacted me emotionally, mentally and physically,” she admitted.

As life got extremely rough, Shivana made a conscious empowering decision to focus all energies on herself and the things she loves to do. “I had a lot of free time and a file of pipeline projects.

Lip scrub and treatment at Lure by Shiv

self-care, empowerment, gratitude, motherhood, womanhood and body positivity.

At just 28 years old, Shivana is well on her way to solidifying and expanding her brand that has already been making waves in the beauty and wellness industry.

“I refuse to settle for less; not in life, work, social responsibility, and not in the products I choose to create and the tools I choose to share,” Shivana shared during an interview with Pepperpot Magazine lately, adding, “This is why it has taken me months and years to carefully design the line of products we have today.”

As a career-driven woman, Shivana experienced episodes of burnout that resulted from spending long hours at work, a lack of proper sleep, anxiety and not being able to effectively balance work and leisure.

Realising that her pregnancy in 2018 was high risk propelled her to take better care of herself although she was at the same time dealing

I believe God showed me a sign and I accepted it wholeheartedly.”

As she started to focus on her business, Shivana

went after products that are handmade intentionally with natural, super ingredients to target skin impurities, everyday hair and lip issues, and most recently, nail and cuticle health.

Lure by Shiv offers soy candles, facial tools, body tools, gifts, gift cards, floral arrangements and other services. Since she believes that sustainability is important, she and her team make it a point to source the highest quality of ingredients and packaging options to meet the golden standards of health and wellness.

“We’re here to inspire you to join this lifestyle; to continue raising the bar and making conscious choices for yourself, your loved ones, the environment and the products you choose to use in your self-care rituals. We listen; we pay attention to our customers,” she offered.

With her love for Guyana’s natural resources intact, Shivana is quite passionate about sustainable living and luxury. “I always envisioned myself developing our local communities and industries from the grassroots level,” she said.

Shivana said once Lure

by Shiv meets its local targets, it will embark on another phase of the brand. “We intend to meet our objective of inspiring as many persons as we can to take charge; to take care of their mind, body

Founder of Lure

by Shiv, Shivana Persaud

As life got extremely rough, Shivana focused on the things she loved to do

and spirit. I will take this opportunity to thank you for all your support and for sharing this homegrown brand.”

Lure by Shiv is online

As life got extremely rough, Shivana focused on the things she loved to do

Lure by Shiv offers soy candles, facial and body tools, gifts and gift cards

operated within the country and products are available at retail shops including Babe Cave, Glo Guyana, Smart Aid Pharmacy, and

Hello Sexy. The business can also facilitate those overseas-based Guyanese wishing to send gifts to their loved ones in Guyana.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

‘Speak out against violence’ Region Two women leaders push women to empower themselves

By Indrawattie Natram

I

NFLUENTIAL women leaders residing in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region have joined hands in encouraging women to speak out against any form of violence they may face. These women leaders hail from various communities in Region Two and have taken up various leadership positions in different sectors on the Essequibo Coast.

During interviews conducted with the women, they all related that women should be respected daily and therefore called on them to know their values and to take up responsibilities in society.

Member of Parliament Yvonne Pearson who hails from Mainstay/Whyaka said that women need to challenge themselves and ensure that they further their studies. She recalled her days when she enrolled at the University of Guyana, IDCE classes at Anna Regina. She said that though she was living in the most remote community she wanted to qualify herself. She recalled riding her “Atlas” bicycle through the lonely road of Anna Regina and Mainstay.

“I challenged myself to keep my head up high. Female voices must be heard, the journey is rough but once you start you must complete and achieve, even if it’s a certificate it will take you far,” Pearson said.

Member of Parliament, Region Two, Yvonne Pearson

She also called on women to continue to empower themselves by reading.

Pearson said that many women are at home during the pandemic and as such can have used the opportunity to read and enhance their skills. She also emphasised that the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security is investing in women through many programmes and women can tap in on those opportunities.

Former Regional Vice Chairperson and Commissioner on the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Juliet Coonjah said that the Commission is concerned about the recent acts of Barbarism committed against women in Guyana. She, therefore, said that the Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC) is calling on all law-abiding and right-minded Guyanese regardless of their race, age, religion, or political persuasion to condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent violence committed on the 97 Rose Hall elder and also the Venezuelan national. She encouraged women who are abused to ensure that they make a report to the closest police station.

“The Guyana Police Force is duty-bound to protect all citizens especially those who are vulnerable such as elderly women and

Region Two Chairperson, Vilma De Silva Chairperson of the Women and Gender Committee, Region Two, Verina Rasheed.

children- too many of these actions committed are left unsolved,” Coonjah said.

Region Two Chairperson, Vilma De Silva who hails from the Pomeroon River said that women are the backbone of society and as such need to be leaders.

De Silva said that women love to challenge and as such, she called on women to educate themselves and take up leadership positions in society.

De Silva said that wom-

Retired Headmistress, Judy Lall

en must never feel that they cannot achieve anything adding that she is very proud to be the first woman to be the Regional Chairwoman and she would like to see other persons taking up the same positions in society.

The Regional Chairwoman said that oftentimes women are being abused silently but refuse to speak out as such she is calling on women to speak out and to assure them that help is available.

Chairperson of the Women and Gender Committee of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Verina Rasheed said that the role of the committee is to respond to issues affecting women, men, and children locally. She said the committee is currently working with various agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to further empowered women by creating awareness. She also said efforts are being made to get a place to house elders and abused women in the region.

Former Regional Vice Chairperson, Juilet Coonjah

Retired Headmistress Judy Lall said that women need to learn new things, build new businesses, and love themselves. Lall who hails from Anna Regina said that women need to add value to their lives and also to know that it is okay to say “No”. She called on women not to see themselves as housewives but to expand their cooking, artist, and gardening skills. Lall also called on women to practice saving and to be innovative in their thinking.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Electrical engineering, anyone?

This woman says ‘yes!’

By Dillon Goring IN a professional world that was once dominated by males, females have begun to make strides in an aim to make their voices heard and develop their skills beyond what is usually expected of them.

The Pepperpot Magazine recently sat down with Morissa Howard, a young female electrical engineer from Banks DIH, who recently became the first female electrical engineer that the beverage giant has produced in years.

Howard recalled that during her high school years, she always enjoyed fixing things of an electrical nature such as radios, circuit boards and paying careful attention to what the electrician did whenever he stopped by her home.

According to Howard,

Morissa Howard on the job as an electrical engineer at Banks DIH

working in a male-dominated world can be really tough.

“Most times if given work from the electrical workshop at my place of employment (Banks DIH), it is often said that me being a female wouldn’t be able to do the task because of the nature of the job whether height or any task that can be more handled by a male,” she explained.

Nevertheless, Howard says that she often demonstrates to her male colleagues than she is up for the challenge, because of her love for the job.

The electrical engineer believes that more women should take up this profession simply because women are more cautious, methodical and detailed in bringing a solution to the problem as against providing a quick fix solution.

Howard hails from Sophia in Georgetown and is the only technical person among her 13 other siblings.

She is also the mother of a five-year-old and says it has been a challenge to balance work, studies and parenting but she made it successfully.

Her advice to young people in the field of electrical engineering is to: “ Prepare to study especially… Maths and Science.

Above all you must prepare to study hard and put in your extra work and as a result you will be successful.”

Morissa has been described by Banks DIH as a trailblazer as quoted in the Banks DIH Pacesetter Magazine of 2021.

The Pacesetter Magazine also made mention of the fact that Morissa was awarded the Peter D’ Aguiar

Scholarship in 2016, which is an award that was established in honour of the late Banks DIH Chairman.

Morissa joined the company in 2004, as a trainee/casual with very little knowledge, but as time progressed, and with training, the young female electrical engineer pursued studies at

the Government Technical Institute where she gained distinctions.

She was confirmed on June 1 2006 as an employee of Banks DIH LTD. Morissa has been encouraging and continues to encourage female employees.

“Take up the challenge, study to improve your live-

lihood, the opportunities are available through scholarships and other methods,” Howard said in the Banks Pacesetter Magazine.

Morissa‘s future goal is to become the Chief Engineer of the company and she pledges to continue to study to realise her dreams.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

West Watooka A farmer’s paradise

By Michel Outridge

THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine visited West Watooka, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

It is a very large community with people of mixed ethnicities and it is an agricultural-based community which runs deep way down to the backlands.

It is home to farmers, most of whom came from a long line of farmers, utilising leased lands that were handed down from generations to generations.

West Watooka is divided into sections and it is a scenic place to reside with the Demerara River running right along the village which stretches from the main access road running one and a half miles into the village.

The people of West Watooka are very friendly and they would spare a few minutes to chat since they work mostly on their farms and have a whole lot to do.

It is home of shallot, peppers, cabbage, pak choi, calaloo, fine thyme, celery, boulanger, tomatoes, bora, ochro, turmeric, gin-

Councillor/villager, Sherry James

ger, ground provisions, sugar cane, coconuts, lemons, limes, oranges and many fruits.

This village is divided into several sections considering how large it is and they are Hill Top, West Watooka, Central Watooka and Block ‘G’.

More than 1,500 persons reside in this quiet, farming community where the people are neighbourly and get about their daily routine in an orderly manner.

West Watooka Village has a nursery school, a health centre, a community centre ground and a ball field.

The village has many small shops where

much-needed items can be purchased and there are many up and coming roadside small businesses.

The people of this village are multi-talented and skilled and apart from being farmers they are also highly qualified professionals with office jobs.

Most services can be accessed in central Linden where there are many large businesses and government agencies.

West Watooka is a place where the air is fresh and the atmosphere is unpolluted and most people do not leave the village unless they have to.

The Councillor The Pepperpot Magazine met Sherry James, a councillor with the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) which is based in central McKenzie, Linden.

She is a resident of West Watooka and came from a family of farmers, she is also a cash crop farmer.

James is also the chairman for the Local Authority and is considered the village leader, she is well-known and loved in the community.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that the soil in West Watooka is very fertile and is deemed the second-best after Rupununi and it brings out the best organic crops, a farmer’s paradise.

James stated that it was said that the bauxite dust did not pollute that area, as such, the soil composition is noted for producing a good harvest every time.

The Councillor added that since her husband was a small boy, the community existed and he is now age 60 years old but people never used to reside there and it was only used for farming.

“This village has developed from swamps, canals and a mud dam to what it is today, a developing village of farmers and other hard-working people,” she said.

James reported that the Indigenous were the first settlers in West Watooka Village but it was always used as farmlands.

She stated that back in the days they used to access the farmlands by swimming canals, trekking through swamps to get to their farms and today they have a farmto-market road which needs upgrading.

James recalled during the Cheddi Jagan administration, the lands were surveyed and they bought it for half the price, a promise fulfilled then.

And in the Bharrat Jagdeo regime a farm-to-market road was constructed but over the years that road has deteriorated and needs to be upgraded.

James has been residing in West Watooka for the past 30 years and has converted her back yard into a farm, a

West Watooka Village (Carl Croker photos)

Focus on the Village

family business.

She pointed out that if one is in for a quiet, farming life then West Watooka is the place to live.

James revealed that for the very first time a $174 million conservancy will be built in West Watooka to ensure farmers benefit from better drainage and irrigation.

A contract was inked on February 2, 2021 and it was an intervention by government following an outreach to the community last month.

Recently, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha returned to the community for the official signing of the contracts for the consultancy, construction of the dams and construction of the irrigation structures.

The construction of the conservancy, farmers would soon be able to increase their production and presently, the canals are been dug by excavators and trenches are being upgraded to boost the drainage and irrigation network within the village.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Farmers are the backbone of West Watooka Village

By Michel Outridge WEST Watooka, Wismar, Linden has more than 100 farmers and they do not complain despite many challenges. These people are very positive in their thinking and look past many things to make a living.

One such person is Aubrey Marshal, a cash crop farmer, who was working on his farm when the team met him.

Despite the blazing sunshine he was not deterred and was seen clearing weeds and transplanting calaloo seedlings to beds he had prepared.

Although he resides in Silver Town he would make his way to his farm every day via his bicycle and has in his employ three persons from the community.

He only goes home to take a rest and have a meal.

He has been a farmer for more than 30 years and is cultivating his family’s land and has four acres of cabbage, pak choi, turmeric, boulanger, calaloo, fine thyme, peppers, celery, to-

Lyrick Wilson

matoes and other crops.

Marshal would sell his produce at the McKenzie Market and in Wismar and when he has enough he

Lyrick Wilson on his farm

also met Lyrick Wilson, who has acres of citrus, fruits and cash crops.

He also rears chickens and pigs and works alone.

The father of six related and vegetables.

Wilson would sell his produce at the market and he has some wholesale buyers that would visit his farm to make purchases.

He has five acres of farmland he has utilised to cultivate all kinds of crops and has another plot at Hill Top, also in West Watooka.

Wilson told the Pepperpot Magazine that his father used to be a farmer and the lands belonged to him but after he passed away at age 83 years old he decided to take up farming and relocated from One Mile, Wismar to West Watooka.

As a small boy, Wilson used to go farming with his father and he didn’t like it at first but as he got older he developed a liking for farming and told himself that he will do it when he gets mature.

“I get everything from farming, this house and it feeds me comfortably so

would share among villagers.

“This farming life is not about flamboyance but entails hard labour and there is no machine to assist, using the hands with some tools one has to get down and get dirty to grow food, he said.

Marshal is a simple man, whose main source of income is farming.

The Citrus Farmer The Pepperpot Magazine

that he lives with his wife and that is his companion, who would prepare the meals and tend to the home while he does the farming.

The 71-year-old is full of energy and has the determination to continue farming, a task most young men are not willing to take up.

His entire back yard has lemons, limes, organs, tangerines, five finger, sour sap, mangoes, coconuts, guava, plum and a lot other fruits

Focus on the Village

Aubrey Marshal (Carl Croker photos)

what more can I ask for and I don’t have to work with anyone but maintaining the land is a challenge, he said.

This farm is one of a kind, clean and well-kept and all his trees and crops are in order.

These crops are all organic and no fertiliser is used and he would use fowl or cow dung to put on his beds for his plants but noted that the soil in itself is very fertile.

“I told myself this is my work and I make it fun but it is not easy and at 71 years old I am doing it by the grace of God and still has some energy left for another day,” he said.

Wilson stated that he doesn’t see the need to have helpers and he has a motto ‘one man can do a lot’ and that keeps him going regardless of the uphill task of farming on a large scale.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Small businesses take a front in West Watooka

By Michel Outridge JUST by looking at her, you may never know that

cultivation of varying crops including, ground provisions.

The mother of eight re-

Wallace has a very effervescent personality that is contagious and she is a wealth of knowledge when

Karen Wallace at her roadside stand (Carl Croker photos)

she is a farmer in her community who sells her produce at her roadside shop at the head of the West Watooka Main Access Road. But Karen Wallace, better known as ‘Aunty Karen’ in her village, is a respected resident, who is a female farmer, toiling alongside her husband.

The 37-year-old is wellknown and has six acres of

has grown over the years from a makeshift shack as a shop to a newly built, well-painted structure.

“I start off small and over time I saved up and began doing more to make my small business a success because it makes no sense doing something then it flops,” she said.

Between farming, her shop and family that is enough to keep Wallace busy and she has to no time to waste.

She would use her bicycle to get from her home to her farm and to her shop and that is how she divides her time daily.

Her shop has been in operation since 2008 and last heavy rainfall she suffered many losses when her crops were destroyed by floodwaters.

dor/Organic farmer His ingenious way of thinking caused him to open a small business utilising his own farm-grown sugarcane.

Troy Ross is also a resident of West Watooka, Wismar, Linden and he is an organic farmer of coconuts and sugarcane.

The 51-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has three acres of coconuts, three to five years old, bearing nuts and sugarcane.

It, however, dawned on him what to do with the crop of sugarcane and then the idea of making his own sugarcane juice was conceptualised.

Ross stated that he went to the city and bought a sugarcane juice extractor and then he custom-made a stand and placed it at the roadside by the West Watooka Main

small business this February and so far, it has been going fairly well and would have his nephew by his side to assist.

Making sugarcane juice is a process in which Ross has become an expert. First he would wash the sugarcane then using a cutlass he would scrape off the skin then place it into the juice extractor which extracts the juice which flows into a clean container.

He then would strain the sugarcane juice and place it into a clean bottle which is stored in a cooler.

The sugarcane husk is burned and placed on the beds for farming and on the roots of coconuts and sugarcane plants.

Ross would source ice from a resident in the village and when he is not at his

lated that from time to time when the workload gets too much for herself and spouse they would employ young men from within the village to assist.

She has a roadside shop vending fresh fruits, vegetables and ground provisions daily except some Sundays, which is often for family and a bit of relaxation when she is not on the farm.

Troy Ross shaving the skin off the sugarcane before placing it in the juice extractor

Troy Ross’ sugarcane juice stand

it comes to farming.

She is always smiling but smiles even more when she gets money in her hands and she would try to meet the needs of customers even if they have short money and her business

Like most farmers, Wallace intends to keep going and with the upgrading of the drainage and irrigation system within the village she is hopeful it will be of benefit to all farmers.

The Cane Juice Ven-

Access Road.

He began using his own sugarcane to make juice which he bottles for just $200 each and he would ensure he has ice to have it cold for the customer and stores it in a cooler.

Ross said he began the

Focus on the Village

sugarcane juice stand he is on his farm tending to his cultivation.

“I started alone and still farming alone because I find it to be what I want to do for a living and I cleared the land and started my cultivation many years ago and today I can have a side hustle as well,” he said.

Ross opens his small business on Mondays to Fridays and on weekends he would use the time for farming.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Philbert Bowlin’s farm

Farmer, Philbert Bowlin in his farm

The family that farms together

By Michel Outridge THE Bowlin siblings live side by side in West Watooka, Wismar, Linden and they live a simple life as farmers.

Allison Bowlin-Thomas told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has used all the land space in her yard to farm and what is harvested will be for the kitchen use and excess will be sold in the community.

Following the death of her husband, Bowlin-Thomas stated that life has become challenging because she has to work and is still getting used to her spouse’s passing.

When the team caught up with her she was in the yard pulling weeds and clearing bushes in her garden.

She has a budding cultivation of ochro, pak choi, calaloo, boulanger among other crops and the lands she reside on and is farming was handed down to her from her father, a farmer, who passed away many years ago.

Thomas said farming is in the blood and that they must do it to earn.

She grew up in Silver Town but used to visit West Watooka as a girl with her father, who utilised the land for farming.

The mother of two added that she is familiar with West Watooka and after marriage she decided to reside there.

Bowlin-Thomas related that she has five siblings but a brother, who lives next door and is also a farmer.

“My dad always made us

promise him that we will use the land to farm and grow food and we must fulfil that promise we made to him,” she said.

H e r f a t h e r, S i l v a n a Bowlin was a well-known man and a farmer in the community.

Thomas noted that after a day gardening she will relax a bit but was however, brave for the sun that day.

Meanwhile, next door, Philbert Bowlin, a large scale farmer was bus tending to his farm and nursery.

The 50-year-old reported that he doesn’t buy seeds and would set his own plants in his shade house/nursery, he has some tomatoes which will be transferred to freshly cleaned beds.

The father of four stat-

Philbert Bowlin in his shade house

Allison Thomas (Carl Croker photos)

ed that he works alone and it is hard work but it is his job and he would get things done without complaining.

He has pak choi, bora, boulanger, tomatoes, fine thyme, ochro, celery and all types of fruits.

He started farming when Linmine closed its operations more than 20 years ago and is self-employed.

Bowlin told the Pepperpot Magazine that he wants more land to farm while, some people in the village have lands which are being overrun by bushes and it needs to be utilised because

the place is too bushy.

“This farming wok nice if you have discipline and ready to toil, it is hard labour no matter the weather but I have to keep going because with this job I build house and bought a car,” he said.

Bowling reported that when he began farming he started with just calaloo and as he gained experience he began planting other crops over the years.

His farm is like no other, very clean and organised and there isn’t a weed in sight and to maintain it to that standard is no easy task.

Bowlin disclosed that he

does the farming while, his wife would sell the produce and he has some wholesale buyers.

“To take our your produce from this village is difficult because the road is in a bad state and it needs to be upgraded and it takes a toll on your vehicle and a lot of people do not want to come in here to buy our crops because of the road,” he said.

Bowlin added that he also plants sweet peppers on a large scale and when he gets a good harvest he would journey to the city to sell same.

Focus on the Village

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Focus

Sharon Garraway in her kitchen

on the Village

The empowered West Watooka entrepreneur

By Michel Outridge WHEN it all seemed impossible for Sharon Garraway to start over she surprised everyone with her strong will to succeed and over time established her own small business, as a single parent.

The mother of two told the Pepperpot Magazine that following a failed marriage after many years, she returned home to West Watooka, to start afresh.

She was living in McKenzie, Linden and knew she had to start somewhere to make her mark in life.

Garraway reported that she started out with very little and struggled over the years to make her small business into what it is to-

day, Sharon’s Snackette became a reality eight years ago and it is located at the head of the village access road.

All cooking is done at the snackette which has a kitchen and counter space for a showcase and a detached building where adequate seating accommodation with wooden tables awaits customer in-house dining.

Sharon’s Snackette is at the perfect location which overlooks the Demerara River and it is very scenic and has wooden benches outside to sit and relax.

The place also has a washroom facility with potable water and it is a clean and well-kept environment.

Garraway makes two

Sharon Garraway’s Snackette (Carl Croker photos)

meals for lunch daily and on that day she was preparing stewed trout with rice and vegetable rice with baked chicken.

All meals are prepared from scratch at her kitchen in the snackette and noted that her customers keep coming back for the service and the taste, the deliciousness of the dishes.

The 45-year-old is perhaps one of the friendliest you will ever encounter and she always wears a smile no matter what kind of a day she is having.

With her children all grown up, her son is a detective with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) attached to the Guyana Police Force and her daughter, is a young mother,

A smiling Sharon Garraway

who recently had a baby.

Garraway is a grandmother of two, who has started a kitchen garden with

her son-in-law.

“Having my own small business feels good because this is what I wanted and worked to achieve it and I don’t have to sit and depend on anyone because I am earning, no matter how small a profit but at the end of the day it is mine,” she said.

She reported that she can adapt to being independent and taking care of herself because she was exposed to work at a young age with her parents on their farm.

Her father is from Pomeroon while, her mother is from up Demerara River, a place called Mora. Unfortunately, they have long passed on and she has seven siblings.

Garraway stated that she grew up in West Watooka and it is home; a place where she feels comfortable despite challenges.

The small business own-

er handles the cooking alone and if the business expands she may have to employ others but for now it is making steady strides despite business being a bit slow.

“Economically people are not doing well but they are trying to make ends meet with what they have so some days things are okay while, on others, it is not so good but trying is better than giving up,” she said.

Garraway pointed out that she would leave her home on Hill Top, West Watooka and make her way to her snackette to start cooking for lunch from 07:00hrs and when she is finished cleaning and the cooked foods are sold out she would leave even if it is after lunch.

She has had the business for the past eight years and is optimistic that her small business will continue to grow.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Fogarty’s Clerk 83 at 83

By Francis Quamina Farrier IN more recent times, I have been approached by younger citizens seeking information about some matter or happening of the past. While there are books with some of Guyana’s history, there is certainly not enough. For example, while there is a comprehensive book on the history of Theatre in Guyana by Frank Thomasson, it does not mention that the Guyana National Drama Festivals and the Sugar Estates Drama Festivals of the past, never had adjudicators who were involved with any of the groups which they had to adjudicate. That was never done. As such, there continues to be a vital role for the older citizens who should always make themselves available to share their knowledge and experiences, in as honest and unbiased and authentic a way as possible.

When I joined the workforce of William Fogarty’s Limited back in the mid-1960s, it was then the most popular store on Water Street in Georgetown. A good education and personality were prerequisites to be employed as a sales clerk. For business establishments such as Fogarty’s, Bookers, Geddes Grant, the Banks and others, a light complexion was also necessary. While I am not light of complexion, I was accepted at Wm. Fogarty’s store. I was given the number “83” as all sales clerks at that establishment had an identification number.

A few months after I joined the establishment, there was the event that afforded me the opportunity of becoming known by all of the various managers and other staffers of “Your Friendly Store” as Fogarty’s promoted itself. There was the annual sporting event at which there was a variety of races. Ill advisedly, I signed up for the one-mile race, even though I was not physically prepared.

Out on the field, the starting shot was fired and during the first lap, Farrier was among the leading bunch of runners. By

A youthful Francis Quamina Farrier skating on the Water Street pavement. William Fogarty’s store is in the background. The fence west of the garden was not erected at that time

the third lap, Farrier was not doing too well. He was even overtaken by a lap by the leading runners. Subsequently, the winner and others were long back in the pavilion and relaxing, while Farrier was still out on the track. The announcer on the PA system was kind enough to give words of encouragement. “And there is Farrier all by himself!” Yes, I was alone on the track with yet one lap to go. However, over 1000 eyes were on me; managers, supervisors, sports personalities and other staffers of Wm. Fogarty’s and their relatives and friends who were there to enjoy the company’s annual Sports Day. The winner’s tape was brought out again, and as I breasted it with the speed of a bullet out of a gun, the roar from the stands was deafening. Yet, even though I came in last, I became an instant celebrity among staffers

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at William Fogarty’s Store that day. Being last at times can be turned around for one’s benefit, and that is what actually happened. Managers, supervisors and other staffers got to know and respect clerk number 83 for keeping right on to the end of that race and not slipping away with cowardliness and embarrassment.

In the months and years that followed, the General Manager, Irishman, Eion O’Dowd, who was primarily interested in good sales practices, showed a marked respect for me. I was particularly good at what I was employed to do -- sell what was there for me to sell. That was the principal way to be in the good books of General Manager Eion O’Dowd. During my eight years at Wm. SEE PAGE XIV

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Over 200 students get entrepreneurial boost from SBB

By Dillon Goring AS society grows, more and more persons are embarking on developing their own entrepreneurship.

Over the past three to four years, the Small Business Bureau (SBB) has been helping and guiding students from various schools across the country to develop their own business enterprises.

To this end, the In-School Entrepreneurship Programme was launched back in September 2017, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education by the Small Business Bureau.

Coordinator of the programme Shermaine Headley, during an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, made mention of the fact that the programme aims to provide support for less fortunate students who have a business idea as well as students who are developing a business.

“Part of our mandate is to implement programmes which foster the development of growth of small businesses in Guyana, so we create the inter-school entrepreneurship programme to provide support to less fortunate students and particularly to students doing objects that can be transformed into a business activity, but also to promote the idea of entrepreneurship,” the coordinator told Pepperpot Magazine.

The success of the programme has been seen in a number of ways, since its launch.

The Small Business Bureau has been able to work with over 200 students from schools across the 10 administrative regions, thus showing the correlation between their subjects and using the teaching to garner incomes or to start a businesses of their own.

“We have been able to instill the entrepreneurial mindset within them; we were also able to foster a business concept within their communities because their parents and others are the beneficiaries of the training,” Headley told the Magazine.

According to the Coordinator, the Ministry of Education was responsible for selecting the students for the programme as well as the schools who would participate in the programme organised by the Small Business Bureau (SBB).

Regarding the criteria set out for the participation of students in this programme, Headley pointed out that each year, based on budgetary allocations, the Small Business Bureau can safely determine and assess the needs of the students.

“Each year, we have based on our budgetary allocations, the number of students that we can support, or the number of schools we can support. Hence, we determine that we worked in all 10 regions,” the coordinator told the magazine.

The hinterland communities schools showed the greatest interest and participation in programmes designed to aid in the development of business enterprises.

According to a post that appeared on the Small Business Bureau’s Facebook page, the programme initially targeted 100 students from 15 secondary schools, who benefited from entrepreneurial discussion sessions and a grant of $30,000 each. In 2018, the programme was expanded to 25 secondary schools and approximately 165 students. As a result of the support and mentorship provided by the Small Business Bureau, viable businesses were created, and students were able to link academic programmes to real-life career choices, particularly in the field of entrepreneurship.

These sessions are geared towards encouraging youth to develop innovative businesses, as well as utilise available networks and linkages to achieve business goals. The target audience for these sessions consists of fourth and fifth form students from participating secondary schools.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sun

XIII

Nervous habits and mental health

I do not always know what I’m looking losing your phone would be on a scale of 1-10. 98 percent . My phone is such a normal part of my said 10 and 2 percent said 9. They all claimed that it would in my hand that I cannot count the numbe the worst material possession that they could ever lose. arched for it, while it was actually in my They continued to say that feelings of anxiety, irritation and I doDURING when I the getpast up two in the morning and an weeks, I have received alarming overwhelming sadness would be felt if they were to lose their of sleep emails is from readers haveIshared that they fore number going to check mywho phone. phone today. have developed new and what n’t healthy and something mustthey bebelieve done. to be unhealthy It seems harmless, right? Caring so much about a habits. rch andThere found that women were more phone?

Well, this week I’ve been really paying attention were many different habits mentioned -- nail-biting, ctedtapping/shaking to their phones simply because men to the importance that I and others around me give to a feet and cracking knuckles etc. While these e social media Also, older people may seem likeapps. three completely different topics, they all have phone, rather than what’s actually going on around them. vital in common -- they are all considered omesomething addicted.

I believe this is because Ournervous phones -- whether we are speaking to other people, habits.

Therefore, I will talk about nervous habits in general, w to use smartphones (My father actually using social media or playing games -- can be addictive what may cause them, what they subsequently cause and how as they alter our moods, beliefs and trigger enjoyable to overcome them. my colleagues andarefriends how that badwe do and unenjoyable feelings. Apart from obviously being my Nervous habits simply things when we feel uncomfortable, anxious or scared. Sometimes, we dosource not main of communication, my phone is my newspaeven know that we are doing it as it becomes so common, per, watch, alarm, map, recorder, day planner, calendar, repetitive and involuntary. Other than the aforementioned, friends observe and actually put their hand on my leg to stop camera, player, calculator, a weapon (sometimes) nervous habits also include hair twirling or pulling, grinding/music it from shaking. I never considered it a problem, but when a and my friend I’mto bored basically evclenching teeth, speaking fast, chewing on things such as pen readerwhen asked me help her or stoplonelythis specific habit, I started covers, etc. They mostly happen when we are not comfortable erything. However, itattention is also my interrupter and to pay more to myconstant own shaking.

I don’t necessarily in the current situation or worse if we are not comfortable in Ithink that the action itselflike causes any harm, butout I am there) confident distractor.

(I imagine much most of you our own skin. it doesn’t decreaseeverything the current state anxiousness -- it have a deepthat desire to know thatof is going on. most likely exacerbates it.

I believe that isI have human nature. But when does it become been trying all week to decrease it and a few things too much? have worked for me. The most effective was crossing my Well, I believe toomemuch when it has a name. legs-- thisit’s made physically unable to shake.

If you‘Nodo not like crossing your legs and feel like more of a challenge, deep mophobia’ is the term coined to describe the fear of being breathing also helped me.

I breathed in through the nose without a mobile phone. Seriously, what have we come to?for four seconds and out through the mouth for eight seconds. This It becomes an addiction whenbody theand object begins tothe control helped calm my entire therefore stopped shaking. your life and interferes with your daily activities, Cracking knuckles is also a very common work, nervousand habit relationships.

I readstress. somewhere biggest to relieve However,that this “The too comes with obstacle harms. It is controversial, but many studies do show that to productivity is connectivity,” but overuse canover-cracking affect a of the knuckles makes you more susceptible to impaired hand lot more than our productivity. The truth is, overuse of our function and arthritis. Keeping your hands busy has been phones can harm sociallythis. andFor physically. knownus as psychologically, an effective way to decrease example, try Withbyregard to affecting our social skills, how many usby These and other nervous habits are typically caused to always keep a pen in your hand at work etc. Make itoffun fear, stress, anxiety or a lack of self-confidence miss and are bato twirlconversation the pen betweenas your out on learning a joke how or good wefingers. were The on rubber our sically unhealthy ways of coping with stress. Why are theyHow band method has also been with this.

Keepfriend a rubber phones? many times have wesuccessful annoyed our good unhealthy? Because they cause additional problems that tend band around your wrist at all times while attempting to quit. or family because we were posting on social media to worsen the overall anxiety which caused the habits in the member When you feel like cracking your knuckles, snap the rubber how much fun It the truly affects our first place. It’s a cycle not unlike drinking alcohol and smoking bandwe on are yourhaving hand. It with stings,them? but that’s point.

This allows cigarettes.

Fingernail biting is one of the most common nervous habits. It may seem harmless but actually poses threats such as grinding down of teeth, inflammation and paronychia, which is a skin infection surrounding the nail. A common method people use to decrease this is coating the nails with substances that are unpleasant to taste. For example, aloe vera or limacol.

A fresh manicure often helps as well. If you have a severe case, severe measures such as latex gloves or band-aids on the nails have been known to be effective.

Shaking of the leg is something I often do -- every time I’m irritated and running out of patience, or just simply feel out of place. It’s not even something that I notice anymore; I only do when someone asks “why is the desk shaking?” or when my

for an association between stinging pain and knuckle-cracking.

Come to think about it, I believe this method can also be used to quit nail-biting.

If you have attempted and been successful at decreasing these nervous habits, please reward yourself accordingly.

The truth is, learning how to quit these habits are secondary. Your primary focus should be what causes these nervous habits in the first place. Again, more often than not, they are caused by stress, nervousness, fear and anxiety. There are a few things we can do. We can adopt healthier coping strategies, we can practise better time management and we can work daily to improve our self-confidence.

Coping skills As covered before in a few articles, coping skills refer to

relationships without us even realising it. A common thing that some of us (yes, myself included) do as well is to be on our phone when we are left alone in a public setting-- just out of sheer discomfort. This stops other people from engaging with you.

Now, what are the psychological implications of cellphone overuse?

This is done mainly by our apps on our phone than the phone itself. Social media apps such as Snapchat and Instagram are associated with bullying, privacy violations, stress and anxiety. Low self-esteem and depression are also com-

how we deal with the stress in our lives. For example, if we had a bad day at work, an unhealthy way of coping would be to do any of the above, while a healthy one would be to find a replacement such as reading or going to the gym. It’s simple in words-- we stop practising the ones that we do and start practising new ones. However, it is difficult in action; it requires a lot of work and repetition to form a new habit.

Think of new and healthy habits that were recommended and decide which one is right for you.

Time management It must be known that most stress may come from a lack of time management. We feel very stressed/ anxious when we have a lot of things to do and not enough time to do them.

This can include anything from homework to taking care of the family. Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, but some people get a lot more done than we do. Sometimes, it’s not that we have too much to do, but rather we are not managing our time properly. The basics of time management are to properly plan what you have to do and suitably organise the time to do it. What happens when we fail to practise time management or use our time productively? We are not able to complete our work on time, we produce poor quality of work or miss deadlines all together- all of which lead to trouble and feeling stressed.

Here are a few ways to better manage your time.

Write everything down and tick everything off as you accomplish them. This is called visual progression and it naturally increases both motivation and productivity. Keep an appointment/scheduling book. This helps to plan ahead and therefore is a great preventative measure of minimising stress.

When working, put all technology aside. These gadgets are a huge distraction to our current and future generations. Don’t have your cellphone near you, the television on, Facebook open etc. – setting aside proper, uninterrupted time will ensure the highest level of productivity.

Which one will work for you? Add your own techniques in! Remember that being busy isn’t the same as being productive.

Self-confidence.

I believe building your self-confidence is a lot like wanting and trying to lose weight. It seems as if it’s not in your control because you’ve tried and failed many times. However, it is actually in your control-- it’s just that the motivation to do what is necessary is low, because of how you already feel. It’s almost like a cycle of misery.

I, myself, have suffered from low self-confidence and below are some strategies that helped me to overcome that.

None of them is revolutionary -- they are quite simple but also effective if practised often.

There is the obvious one of making ourselves look good on the outside. This is not as SEE PAGE XV superficial as it seems. When

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Fogarty’s Clerk ...

FROM PAGE XI Fogarty’s, as salesperson number 83, I observed many happenings and changes. One busy Friday afternoon, the then first citizen of Georgetown, Mayor Forbes Burnham, paid a courtesy call at the store. He was greeted by the General Manager, Eion O’Dowd. After pleasantries were exchanged, the mayor observed to the general manager with regard to the demographics with shoppers and the sales personnel. “Look around, Mr O’Dowd” the visiting mayor advised the general manager. It was not lost on Eion O’Dowd what Mayor Forbes Burnham was referring to. That situation changed during the ensuing years, and more sales clerks of colour were employed.

In one case, a porter of African heritage who possessed the necessary capability was promoted to a sales clerk.

Yes, there was upward mobility for those with the necessary merit after that visit by Forbes Burnham to “Your Friendly Store.”

As clerk number 83 in the Furniture Department, I found it a joy to turn up for work. Most customers were pleasant and it was a pleasure serving them -- especially those who came from distant locations. As would be expected, some customers were a pain in the neck, but they were spending money and that was what was important. There was the unwritten policy that “The customer is always right.” The customers by their spending, kept the establishment viable and also helped pay our salaries. One of the Guyanese financial cultures among staffers at Wm. Fogarty’s back then was “Box Hand.” There were many in which I participated over the years.

During a period of civil unrest in the city, I volunteered along with other staffers, to assist with the beefing up of security at the store at nights. Looking back one can say, we, the law-abiding patriots did what we had to do to protect and preserve the property where we worked and where we earned our livelihoods.

Among the enjoyable annual events at Fogarty’s store, was the staff party which was not held during the Christmas season, but rather on the second Saturday in January. Staffers usually attended dressed in various costumes. On one occasion, clerk number 83 attended dressed as a circus clown. Looking back at Fogarty’s Store and clerk number 83, it is amazing that he recently reached his year 83 on planet earth. The Wm. Fogarty’s store on Water street is no longer what it used to be back in the day. But neither is clerk number 83.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Nervous habits and mental ...

FROM PAGE XIII we do things that make us feel and look good on the outside, we internalise that feeling. We start to feel good on the inside, which automatically improves our mood, thinking processes and productivity.

Replace your negative self-talk with positive ones. I write

about the importance of this all the time. We are much harder on ourselves than we are on other people. I get that this can make us stronger, but it can also damage our self-esteem.

‘Be careful what you are saying to yourself because you are listening.’

Be charitable -- being generous with your resources and time will allow you to build your self-image and feelings of self-worth. It always feels good to help someone.

Recognise (not obsess over) your faults and the small, daily things that need improving. I have two of these -- I have really bad posture and I speak really fast. People I really care about and respect have commented on these things, which of course affects my self-esteem. Therefore, I make an effort to improve them every day. I stand tall and speak as slowly and clearly as possible.

Set small goals every day, especially if you have big ones to attain. As an example, if losing weight or quitting cigarettes are on your list of goals, those are hard places to start.

It takes time and multiple attempts which lowers feelings of self-worth. Start by setting smaller goals every week, with the intention of reaching your larger, overall goal. For example, cutting down your number of cigarettes per day or cutting something specific out of your diet. Once you achieve these weekly, your self-confidence will build to achieve higher goals.

Finally, empower yourself with knowledge and be prepared for everything you need to do. Increasing feelings of competency go hand in hand with self-confidence.

My take-away message is to remember that we will always deal with some level of stress/nervousness at one point or another, which is good. If we never experience any stress, it simply means we are not challenging ourselves enough or living up to our potential. So, appreciate stress but at the same time, know your limit and how to subsequently minimise it.

Does anyone have any other nervous habits they would like to speak about? Write in and let me know!

Thank you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com . If you would like personal counselling sessions, contact me on +592 623 0433 Suicide Prevention Helpline numbers: 223-0001, 2230009, 623-4444, 600-7896 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always

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XVI

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Navigating the seemingly unrelenting COVID-19 pandemic XXVII

ERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

IT is now more than one year since the emergence and worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus, yet there seems to be no real target for when the world would be able to exit the pandemic. It is clear, however, that we can adapt and try to overcome great challenges, but we need to do more to take care of the more vulnerable among us.

My colleagues and I spent much of the past two weeks exploring how the COVID-19 pandemic has created significant disturbances across all facets of society, not only in the

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Aye or no for parliamentary decorum?

health sector. It has hurt first case in Trinidad was families, disrupted access recorded on the same day I to justice, devastated the played Phagwah in one of economy and businesses, my school’s parking lots -disadvantaged learners, and the first time in days I was emphasised the need for able to take my mind off of food security.

Guyana. edition of ‘In of thedays, National F o r m eDURING , n a v i this g a t past i n g week’s In a matter airAssembly,’ Parliamentarians debated the 2021 National COVID-19 Budget, has been such ports shut, borders closed which was presented earlier in the month by Sea difficult experience. andof Ithewas stuckwith in the Twin nior MinisterIinwas the Office President responsifor the finance, Dr. Ashni Singh.Republic The debate, however, in Trinidadbility when panIsland moving spotlighted a lack of decorum in the Parliament. demic struck the Caribbean from place to place. I was It is both understandable and acceptable for the different and inevitably spread without aandstable source sides of the house to -- the government opposition sides --of to havethere opposing views on the budget.and After all, the national Guyana. While I was income eventually, budgetmy illustrates the government’s vision, prioritymango areas, contending with anguish resorted to selling and general policy direction, since it points towards what and plain disappointment at chow (something similar policies, programmes and plans the government intends to the state ofuse affairs in money Guy- to fund. to pickled mangoes), cornGuyana’s It would be strangebread, for each to agree ana, owing to the protracted andmember brownies with on my every single thing, since variousonindividuals have difelectoral process and the friends sidewalks. ferent priorities and views and perhaps different sides resulting occurrences.

ThedifferentToo days, while of the house have plans,many projects, or policies that would guide Guyana’s developments; and, that is completely fine.

It is neither understandable nor remotely acceptable, however, for elected officials, sworn in as Members of Parliament (MPs), to openly hurl insults at each other and make racist, sexist, homophobic remarks. It is not acceptable for this level of disrespect to be entertained in the National Assembly.

The normalisation of racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks in our common, social spaces might be a conversation for another day, but for crying out loud, this is our National Assembly! Or, our Parliament, as it is more commonly called. It is not touting at the bus park!

Imagine the astonishment one would experience, years from now, if they were to revisit the hansards. Instead of only well-articulated, thorough analyses of the $383.1 billion budget that was presented for the year 2021, there would be remarks signalling homophobia or thinly veiled insults of an MP’s reproductive capabilities.

To be fair, however, there were a few salient presentations. On the first day of the debate, it is a point of pride that two women -- MPs Susan Rodrigues and Amanza Walton-Desir who are also new Parliamentarians -- made good presentations that one would expect at this forum.

Though this absence of decorum from many of the MPs,is perhaps, not a new occurrence in the local context, it begs us to ask ourselves: what valuable contributions are our elected officials making at this forum?

One would hope that the leaders elected by the people of Guyana, whether in government or opposition, would maintain a certain level of decorum in the house. In discharging their duties towards the people of the nation, at the very least, it is expected that they would engage in critical analyses of the budget. The budget debate should attempt to pinpoint deficiencies in allocations, or indicate what other areas of priority should be focused on.

This is how you operate in a democracy, where transparency and accountability are underpinning tenets. This is how you respect the sanctity of Parliament. And above all else, is this how you adequately represent the people of the nation you committed to serve? Parliamentary affairs -- every single aspect-- should be geared towards enhancing the development of the nation and its citizenry.

Admittedly, clever innuendos and witty remarks have long been part of parliamentary presentations, not only in Guyana, but around the world. The addition of clever satire has its usefulness in communication, no doubt. Much of what we saw last week, however, appeared to be a common bottom house or rumshop debacle, replete with “props” and all, that left much to be desired.

Last December, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, told the Guyana Chronicle that the Parliament Office would arrange and conduct training sessions for MPs. Training, the clerk said, is essential because Parliamentarians need to learn how to draft questions and motions, deal with standing orders, and, most importantly, need to learn about the duties of a Member of Parliament. This is particularly necessary for those “new faces” in the house.

The recent events have indeed spotlighted the need for

focusing on ‘Zoom school,’ presented. training of Parliamentarians so that a semblance of decorum Are they adequately representing us and our best interests could be maintainedwhether in the National It is enviall times? to my hall of residence for weeks I questioned trav-Assembly.I recall beingat confined sioned that such training sessions would also help to guide elling to Trinidad to pursue on end, only ableI hope to leave to go to the supermarket to the officials on proper parliamentary procedures. we can do better. my undergraduate studies groceries once in a while. As the weeks became But also, these events should force us topurchase reconsider what If you to discussorganise this column or any of wewas expect acceptdecision from our elected -- Iallwas of able to theandright for officials months, helpwould my like colleagues repatriathem-they discharge their responsibilities mybut previous writings, please feel free contact me via me.while Fortunately, I was blesstion towards flights us. home, I couldn’t find myself on to one of those Are they articulating our collective values when they make email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com ed sexist, with homophobic, friends and col-derogatory flights until much later. racist, and other statements? leagues who took a vested interest in ensuring that I was alright and helped me learn to cope with the circumstances that were

I know that there are so many people with their own unique experiences of navigating this seemingly unrelenting pandemic. I think it is worth acknowledging that we pushed forward despite the challenges of the past year and we continue to navigate the challenges as they are presented.

Now, we are all part of the nationwide vaccination rollout. This rollout has been accompanied by high levels of skepticism and hesitancy. And that is understandable; only the passage of time will permit the scientific community to understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 and whether vaccines will offer long-term protection.

The vaccination rollout, however, has ushered in a sense of hope also. It signals that we have some greater agency in navigating this pandemic and protecting ourselves from the disease (though wearing masks, social distancing, and engaging in constant sanitisation would have allowed this all the while).

Of course, vaccines are not the magic potion that will end the pandemic, but they could help in preventing persons from contracting the severe forms of the virus, thus preventing hospitalisation and deaths. And, these jabs can help us constrain the mutation of the coronavirus into more potentially devastating forms.

The pandemic has an inherent focus on our health system and it begs us to rethink the devolution of health services and resources, however. It is not acceptable for rural and hinterland communities to suffer, because there are not enough health facilities and supplies to take care of their populations.

It is not enough for specialised care to be concentrated on the coastland, or for the rollout of vaccines to get to these communities last.

Outside of the health dynamics of the pandemic, we have been able to innovate and adapt. Access to justice became virtual, concessions and reliefs were granted to help stimulate the economy and we have made attempts at ensuring there is some increased access to education. These efforts are great, but they are not enough to ensure equitable development.

What remains now is for us to widen our focus on adequate social safety nets for the more disadvantaged persons in our society and strive towards the equitable distribution of resources and opportunities to ensure that a state of equality is achieved. It is not enough for us to adapt to and surmount the challenges of the pandemic, but we must think about ensuring that we never have to face these challenges ever again.

If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

SHANTI

A woman was crying.

IT was a dark night in a small village, deep in the countryside, bordered on one side by a punt trench, over which were sugarcane fields. A beautiful village with lovely and rich blooms from flower and vegetable gardens, where the sunrise and sunset, two consistently glorious scenes began and ended each day for the people who lived quiet lives.

But there was something dark within for the village was untouched by the changing times, so the door was never closed for merciless, age-old traditions that still reigned.

In the silence of the night, always can be heard, a woman’s cries – sometimes stifled as man with his inborn strength and aggression stamped his dominance and control, that destroyed day by day, her self-esteem.

At dawn, the pained silence as she performed her daily tasks was like an oppressive veil.

Tonight that veil, that had covered the blood, tears and suffering was thrown off as one woman stood in defiance.

The shock as the villagers watched the smouldering flames, hushed even those who all the years, blooded the oppressive veil.

The woman crying softly, blood trickling from her wounds, looked at her husband’s burnt, lifeless body, lying just inside the door of their ruined home. Her three children huddled close to her, too often in the embrace of violence, to be shocked but still scared.

Her eldest son said, his voice trembling, “He almost killed me, Ma.” Such tragic deaths in that little village, the victims were always abused women.

Tonight, one woman who fought valiantly for her life, changed that – her name, Shanti.

At the young age of fifteen, when like a rose petal, her life was just starting to bloom, her father, a man of old fashioned ideals and principles decided she should get married because he had found a ‘good boy’. That decision shattered her hopes of finishing high school and pursuing her ambition. She had wanted to be an educator to lend knowledge to girls and women in poor areas so they can understand their self-worth and build their self-confidence to follow their dreams and ambitions.

Now her own father, who could have supported her, was denying her just that. She had pleaded with him but he wouldn’t listen and a life she wasn’t ready for was forced upon her. A flower not allowed to bloom, plucked from a garden, withering in uncaring hands.

Her husband much older and with higher education used those advantages to dominate her life. She was intelligent and well versed on many topics but he never showered interest in her capabilities nor supported her. She discovered he had a selfish nature, not wanting her to walk beside him, but steps behind. It hurt deep within but she took it in stride and life went on for all its worth.

He became a functional alcoholic and so often he would get angry, speaking to her in harsh tones. She sent a complaint to her father because it was he who had caused that in her life.

That wasn’t taken well by her husband and he didn’t speak to her for two weeks. Not long after, the physical abuse started and his cruel fists made life a nightmare she just couldn’t awaken from.

Yet in her culture, a woman is expected to honour her husband, to love and care for him, to pray for him.

“How can I do that if he doesn’t love and care for me?” she questioned silently.

And with determination to break this trend, she often said to the walls of the house, “A new day will dawn for me, a new day must dawn.”

But things didn’t get any better, for her husband got demoted from his job not long after their second child was born, because of his drinking habits and life became an unexpected struggle. Her father gave her the capital to start a small business at home to help sustain their needs.

In the quiet moments, as she managed the little dry goods business she often wondered, “Why as a woman am I being treated in such a heartless and cruel way? There’s no appreciation of what I do, no recognition of my worth. How better is he as a man more than me?”

From within a woman comes life, care and compassion and she would ask through bloody lips whenever he hit her.

“Questions, I ask of you, dear Lord, can you answer me?”

No answers as time moved on and she had watched as many women of the village suffered as she did. Many

sleepless nights she would sit looking at her children, deeply worried her sons would most likely grow up to be abusers and her daughter a victim, as the cycle of oppression continued.

“I need to escape from this hell, but how?”

On the day of Raksha Bhandan, when a sister ties a sacred thread on a brother’s wrist for care and protection, an answer

she had long awaited called at her humble home. It was her ‘Rahkee’ brother she hadn’t seen for fourteen years. He had left for overseas when she was ten years old and now that he was back, he had to see her.

A worried look had crossed his face when he saw her and how she was living.

“What happened to you, Shanti?”

She had smiled trying to mask the sadness on her face.

“Nothing, I’m doing fine.”

“No, you’re not. You can talk to me, I’m your brother.”

She had been so happy to see him, she didn’t want to burden him with her problems but he wanted to know about her life, and as they talked, her husband came home. She introduced her ‘Rahkee’ brother, the grandson of an old pandit from the next village, to him. All was well until her husband came home drunk two nights after.

The suspicious look he gave her rang warning bells in her head and she knew she had to keep a safe distance, but he was waiting for her to serve his food.

“You’ve been looking happy,” he said, “since that man came here.”

“He’s my Rahkee brother and I haven’t seen him in years.”

He grabbed her around the neck, anger in his eyes.

“I don’t believe it, something is going on.”

She struggled and managed to pull from him, gasping for breath.

“You brought a strange man in my house, you *****” he swore loudly, knocking everything off the

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kitchen table.

The children awoke, her little daughter started to cry and she ran to grab them and move, but too late. He blocked their escape, a cutlass in his hand and dark rage on his face.

She was trapped in the room with the children, fear rising, almost suffocating her. In her mind, she cried, “Is this how it ends for me, after giving my all to home and family?

Hacked to pieces as my children watched?”

As he advanced on her, her eldest son threw his cricket bat and said, “Use this, Ma!” She grabbed the bat, warding off the cutlass chops but not too good, for he possessed strength and fear had weakened her.

She felt burning in her arm and shoulder, knowing she was bleeding but she held strong in her mind, not to go down. The boys kept grabbing him around the waist to slow him down, giving her a chance to escape from the room. She screamed for the children to run out of the house and as he followed, swinging the cutlass, he cornered their eldest son. She grabbed the lighted lamp from the table and threw it at her husband, not noticing as she ran out the door, that his shirt had caught fire.

She closed the door, putting all her strength against it, knowing one thing – if he had kicked open that door, she was dead.

As he shouted and continued kicking at the door, she screamed in anguish to the heavens, “I have had enough of this hell, you will give me strength!”

The door did not budge.

The neighbours did not come out because they were accustomed to hearing her screams. It was only when the alarm was raised about a fire in the house, then they ran out to assist.

Now as she looked down at his burnt figure, she felt no sorrow, but deep regrets it had to end this way.

A new day will now dawn for her.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

XIII

KNOWING NATIONS

ON THE AWARENESS OF THE AESTHETIC AND THE ‘BEING’ OF OUR YOUNG NATION Part II - IT’S BY THEIR ARTS AND LITERATURE THAT WE REALLY IDENTIFY THEM

IN concluding this discussion, which is intended to raise questions within the reader and inspire responsible actions among those that acquire decision making positions or are already there, we cannot arrive at a sensible without considerations in retrospect. So in a brief flashback, we must recognise, what we have lost to our physical memory reference archive, and use this as inspiration, to be able to raise a natural alarm, a connection to the aesthetic sensitivity alerting us to the fact that we need to have a historical memory in respect to our surroundings, as buildings, landscapes and architecture are inherent of memories in both the conscious and subconscious awareness. We have to become other than people who occupy a geographic space on this planet, and relate to what is the necessary thinking that will enable us to address from the now onward what is significant to telling our stories, especially stories important to our timelines. When we became independent, the euphoria of self-governed nationhood intoxicated us, it had its grounds for intoxication alongside sober examination. We did not make the observation that all around us within the borders of countries we still held controlled admiration for, had retained the edifices of past times.

Our own coloniser England never dismantled Hadrian’s Wall. In more ways than one, from previous colonisers and also from despised local leaders, they kept the memory for reflection, in our Caribbean, Christophe’s spectacular fortress of defence in Haiti will remain, regardless of his history. Europe with the obvious white supremacy that emerged with colonisation did not destroy the sculptures of Afro-European Knights, artworks and literature that spoke of, or alluded to the African presence in a much older Europe, of course, they didn’t in-depth celebrate them either, and also hid their identities with new portraits and in movies.

Where we erred in Guyana was not to use the structures that became available with the decline of trademark services like the Trains, to build museums dedicated to that part of our historical memory. Why preserve the physical imagery of the past? Simple, our ancestors lived it, for the historian, the creative mind, the investigative journalist, the physical location is important. The development of museums was a continuous peeve of the late Dr. Dennis Williams, who had identified Five Museums to be built, he insisted that a marine museum would have been a must. I can now imagine a display of the ship’s kitchen on Lady Northcourt with its cook, the portrait of indifference ‘John’, ‘keep away from John’s kitchen, and why?’ A caption should read before this rude faced ship’s cook made of papier máché –“whose kitchen lay beneath a toilet, from which water dripped continuously, or so we were made See Page XIX

THE criterion that is commonly used to identify nations, whether among ourselves in the Caribbean or afar in most cases reveal our knowledge acquired through the drama of movies, novels or literature, predominantly the cultural or religious nature

of the people or nation. All else is suggestive of what is learnt through selective careers, most times shared among a handful of peers. Images in magazines such as ‘LIFE’, National Geographic and other magazines with significant photographs and

high-end artwork have prevailed in our universe.

The internet is the new, robust kid in town, but believe it, the well-presented magazine is still the old master of the game SEE PAGE XXIX

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Numerous job opportunities through patient care training

By Dillon Goring PATIENT Care is only one of the important jobs in the medical industry that are attracting a lot of attention.

It is against this background that the Government is aimed at providing job opportunities in this area.

The Pepperpot Magazine recently sat down with the Coordinator of the Patient Care Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Doneth Mingo, to talk about the industry and the job opportunities.

Mingo told Pepperpot Magazine that a patient care assistant is a mediator between the patients and the residents of the Palms Geriatric Home. “ A Patient Care Assistant is an important person, in that they cushion the cares, they help the registered nurses, they are mediators between the patients and the residents.

Registered personnel would more do managerial things, such as serve medications, do intravenous lines and even extensive dressings, while the Patients Care Assistant would do simple things such bed making, vital science and feeding of patients who cannot feed themselves,” Mingo told Pepperpot Magazine.

Two graduates of the Patient Training Programme spoke with Pepperpot Magazine about their experiences since starting the programme.

Shonette Sears from the ancient county of Berbice told the Pepperpot Magazine jow excited she was to fulfill a life long dream “This is what I wanted all the time, and finally I get what I wanted, and in the future, I would like to go on to be a registered nurse (R.N).

This is just a start, it is just a stepping stone for me, but all is going well right now,” she said.

Sears told Pepperpot that she has no regrets about joining the programme since it is a lifelong dream being fulfilled.

She noted that she enjoys doing the job of a Patient Care Assistant, thus making the patients feel comfortable.

Another graduate, Faith Hohenkirk who hails from Bartica, said since she assumed the role of Patient Care Assistant, she has received benefits inclusive of an increase in her salary and free transportation to and fro work.

She maintained that the people that she cared for as a Patient Care Assistant are appreciative of her service.

“They got better and they left healthier and happier, the number of persons that got this experience was too numerous to mention,” the graduate told Pepperpot Magazine.

Mingo also revealed that with the training Patient Care Assistants receive, there are opportunities to branch off into various levels of medical careers such as Midwifery, Social Work and Physiotherapy.

The need for Patient Care Assistants is critical in the country and particularly at the Palms since they are the ones who are more need to take care of the residents there.

Recently, 35 Patient Care Assistants graduated from a training programme to work at homes/centres managed by the ministry earlier this year.

These 35 Patient Care Assistants (PCAs), are currently working closely alongside medical teams from the Palms, Night Shelter, Mahaica Home, the Hugo Chavez Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre.

The Patient Care Coordinator also revealed that Patient Care in Guyana, if continued, will go a long way because we will always need Patient Care generally.

Patient Care has been in Guyana for more than two decades and it is thus seen as a stepping stone for further development, therefore, no doubt it is embraced by Government.

Patient Care Graduates

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021 Ray and wife Margaret at Gullfoss Waterfalls, Iceland

Outstanding scholar comes from a family of achievers

By Frederick Halley GUYANA-born Ray Williams prides himself on coming from a family of achievers; his eldest brother, the late Aubrey Williams, distinguished himself as one of Guyana’s renowned artists, siblings Michael – a playwright of esteemed quality, Lesney – a dentist and Keith – dental technician and businessman (all deceased). The lone surviving brother Monty was a former US Social Security Administrator who resides in Chicago, USA. Now retired, Ray spoke with the Pepperpot Magazine from the comfort of his Pickering, Ontario home about his scholastic achievements, his “roams” around the world accompanied by his wife Margaret, writing short stories, poems and travelogues and his passion for photography.

According to Ray, “to date, I’ve written 15 travelogues published on the ‘Trip Advisor’ website under the pen name ‘817 Ray,’ highlighting some of my many world travels. I’ve also written over 40 short stories, (of which my genre is ‘creative non-fiction) and about 28 poems. My desire is to have them published in future. I’ve also been a guest reader at the Pakaraima Writers annual banquet, of which I’m a member.”

Ray explained that his other writing association is with ‘Writers Community of Durham Region,’ from which he received a certificate of appreciation, and won first prize in a writing competition for my children’s story, - ‘The last leaf of Autumn.’

About his travels, Ray exuded: “In our travels, Margaret and I have always strived to view not only the pretty tourist attractions of the country or city visited, but also the not so nice, which held some significance to its overall character. Some such places were the German concentration camps of Dachau outside of Munich Germany, and Auschwitz in Poland. In Cambodia we were quite taken aback walking the grounds of the ‘Killing Fields,’- remnants of the Cambodian civil war. River boating on the Mekong River, brought back memories of the devastating Viet Nam War.” Among the other places the couple visited, which Ray described as appealing to their spiritual yearning and for which they are most blessed, were sacred sites such as the ‘Vatican’ in Rome, the ‘Golden Temple’ in the city of Amritsar in the Punjab state of India, ‘Machu Pichu’ in the Andean Mountains of Peru, the ‘Potala Palace’ in Lhasa Tibet, the shrine of ‘Fatima’ in Portugal, as well as the statue of ‘Christ the Redeemer’ high atop Corcovado Mountain in Rio De-Janeiro Brazil.

On his photography passion, Ray pointed out that “wherever we roam I’m always willing to practice my other passion, that of photography, capturing memories to last a lifetime. And apart from gardening in the summer, I’m an avid ‘star gazer’ wherever I am in the world.

In a career adorned with outstanding accomplishments in the Ontario Public Service, Ray was, in a long list of public appointments, a member of the Immigration task force on Refugees, the planning committee of the Ministry of Correctional Services Multicultural Seminar, Vice-Chairman of the Community Liaison Committee of 42 Division Metro, Police Services, Chairman of the Correctional Services Division Anti-Racism and Multiculturalism Committee, and Associate member of the Association of Black Law Enforcers, topping these up with the Governor General of Canada SEE PAGE XXIII

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY PROMOTES RATIONAL USE OF PLASTICS AND PLASTIC XX WASTE MANAGEMENT XIV

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ―― Sunday, CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT Sunday,February January 28, 10, 2021 2021

THE SEAWALLS FOREVER!

REVISITING THE GUYANA/ VENEZUELA CONTROVERSY SOON TO COME BEFORE THE ICJ

ON March 15 every year, World Consumer Rights Day tos and other disease-carrying insects. Birds often mistake is celebrated worldwide. The main coordinator of these plastic pieces for food and eventually die after eating them. celebrations is Consumers International, which has a Wildlife of the oceans such as fishes, tortoises and even membership of over 100 countries. Each year a theme whales have their digestive systems destroyed after eating is chosen, of which members should take especial cogniplastics. Plastic waste has been responsible for the deaths sance throughout the year. This year there is a global call of large numbers of wildlife each year and for polluting to tackle and eliminate the scourge of plastic pollution. the environment.

In light of this, Helena Leurent, the Director-General of Plastics are very useful and in many cases have beConsumer International,controversy remarked: will “Plastic pollution THE Guyana/Venezuela again shortly and discussions where factual bases invariably become is one the most pressing issues facing our planet. come upof before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). blurred.

SEE PAGE XXXIX awareness of the plastic is of growing InConsumer Guyana, most oflie thedeep writings on the crisis controversy have In thisisoffering, we will depart this with normseashells and try to THE Seawalls in the consciousness Guyanese today rather muddy was oncefrom covered and around the world. Consumers have and a crucial to answer been of a historical and factual nature this a good questions have been asking theup people, but especially Georgetowners.

Yet itis role has rarely theretwo would alwaysthat be many children exploring and since picking shape the marketplace and we must thing, since the Guyanese are not of theoftwo Guyanese fishing boats inthey Guyana’s terribeen noticed by the newspublic media andsupport the encouraged last them time ittowasseizure seashells different colours; sometimes may find large mobilise businesses and governments to ensure that mentioned as an item into of national concern was five or sixtorial conch shells. to move their attention the realms of arguments waters by a Venezuelan navy ship. The first question sustainable of plastics is accessible all...” years agoconsumption when the Ocean overtopped the wall to and flooded The foreshore or continental shelf gradually rises and falls Before weparallel return to theme, Road. we would re-first every 20 years and today, the foreshore land between Camp the yards to this the Public Thislike wastothe mind consumers the public at large the importance time in living and memory that there wasofsuch an occurrence Street and the Pegasus Hotel has almost risen to the height of of consumerism and consumer associations worldwide. and it led to great panic. The authorities hurriedly con- the wall and coconut trees and other vegetation grow on it.

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, the class

structed a barrier of standing concrete slabs on the Walls to counter such overtopping. In the last few weeks, the Seawalls have again featured in the news, but in a happier vein.

From Camp Street to the Demerara River, the wall had become disfigured by an accumulation of unsightly garbage and no one assumed the responsibility of cleaning it. A homeless man, Carl Melville, who sometimes slept there was noticed by Dwayne Hackett trying to clean the garbage and immediately volunteered to help him. Hackett placed the incident on social media and immediately numbers of persons volunteered their services.

First Lady Arya Ali was one of the first to volunteer and the Ministry of Public Works, the Director of Solid Waste Department of the Georgetown City Council and the Fire Service became involved with her. The Fire Service which produced and distributed andallservices gained cleaned the bandstand and in a goods few days the enormous power over the public and was able to exploit garbage was removed and Seawalls appeared them.

20th century, as ifBy theythe hadbeginning of always been the maintained!

Manyexploitation of have consumers had reached a breaking point and there been high in their praises of this example emerged many articulate groups who called for an end to the of civic responsibility. free-market system and replacing it with one of the many The Seawalls had always been the promenade and park for forms of socialism. At this juncture, consumerism emerged the people of Georgetown and the surrounding villages from with the demand that the public and consumers be treated the last quarter of the 19th century and continued to be so until fairly, honestly and with safety not merely by the business the 1960sbut when country became plagued with political community, by the government as well.

Consumerism was tension and there were robberies on the Seawalls.

For most of the purely pragmatic and eschewed and kind of ideological 1960s, therefore, fewer and fewer people visited the Seawalls. underpinning.

In its heyday,therefore, the Seawalls were ideological the most delightful place Consumerism, averted conflict, in Georgetown.

The vast openness of the seascape and made society more stable and gave acceptability to the the surrounding the blue skies silver clouds, free-market and landscape, capitalist system and the and democratic spirit. the ever-present seagulls and the steady flow of the health-giving Governments have seen the value of consumerism not tradefor winds and thethe enveloping and but quietude attracted merely protecting rights ofpeace citizens, as a pillar of people all times of the day. which of ahundreds strong and stable at state.

In Guyana, thereThe arebeach five institutions which are devoted to consumer protection -- the Consumer Division of the Ministry of Business headed

by Ms Cheryl Tinnis; the Competition and Consumer Commission which administers the Consumer Protection Act; the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which takes complaints in respect of the public utilities; the Consumer Advisory Bureau and the Guyana Consumers Association.

Fromconsumer Page III Except for the PUC, all consumer bodies address complaints of every kind. timate for ofthat in the village.

“So we The theme thisarea year’sand Worldzone Consumer Rights Day in the as space of 18 months, workthe with the villagers (WCRD) mentioned above is will tackling scourge of somepollution 33 Giant to create certain rules plastic andAnteaters waste. Plastics, unlike paper andand were identified. help them knowsurvive what they other substances, are not biodegradable and to could for centuries.

They burnt, and since they not would According to could Millar,not re-be should should do. For pollute the atmosphere wherever they are of, searching the animalsand includexample, nodisposed one is allowed theyedaccumulate. the course of they keep find them them-as a going out onInhorseback to time, kill them, selves example, in destroy the drainage system and andeverywhere as, following themforfrom a pet, their habitat, anddistance the oceans. thetodrainage system, block the to be In able stock light a firethey in certain places, waterways and cause floods and swamps mosquiup on more scientific inforso that breeding we can further protect

Likewise, the sea has reclaimed the land along the Kitty Seawall where houses once stood. Indeed, a substantial building is still standing close to the wall near the Kitty Pump Station, but the sea is under it. Old fishermen who set their nets on the foreshore sea could vividly describe the cyclical rise and fall of the beach.

The Seawalls provided a favourite place for health enthusiasts. Many would go there to practise deep breathing of the clean and fresh sea breezes. Others would be cycling or even training for cycle races. Probably the most notable were the ones who went for physical culture. Many of this group would go to the Seawalls by either jogging to get there or by cycle and they would arrive there at 5 o’clock, long before

Research work helping curb... mation. One of the things

the population.”

several short documentaries called the “Secret Life of Giant Anteaters” and each episode focuses on different aspects of the work being done. Two more episodes are expected to be released this month.

The team also does a lot of awareness work, including environmental education.

the sun had risen. is, why is the Venezuelan public sowere convinced they On moonlit nights the Seawalls always athat crowded have a valid claim two-thirds of with Guyana’s territory and promenade.

Many to went to socialise friends, but all went why theirthe politicians bellicose aggressive about to enjoy beauty ofarethesomoon risingand from the sea and the this claim? moonlight And the second is, why did there President blue-green whichquestion was brighter, since were Maduro Venezuela this time seizethe thevarious boats no road of lights to dilutechoose it. Others wouldtoenjoy when he knew he would alienate the Guyanese population phases of the New Moon with the background of purple skies and cause embellished the international community to condemn or with thousands of stars which appear disapprove brighter of his action, Venezuela intersince leaving there were no cityisolated lights. Others nationally on the issue. would go to the Seawalls in the late afternoons to The answer to the sunsets first question began during theinto Cold admire gradually transforming the light ofof dusk.

War: At theblue beginning the 1960s Britain had decided to joysthe of colony the Seawalls were the withdraw fromAnother Guyana of andthe grant independence, earlylikely evening concerts givenof bythe the newly Militia but it was very thatSunday the Prime Minister the Police at the Bandstand which independentBand stateand would be DrBand Cheddi Jagan, an avowed attracted of people.

Their repertoire conMarxist. U.S. Cold hundreds War interests tried to persuade Britain sisted of light classical music such as Strauss’ and to delay Guyana’s independence, but all that Britain could other waltzes, ballet music such Delibes’ pizzicato promise was that she would hand over power to a non-ComandMinister.

Sylvia, atAmerican least one English patriotic such munist Prime Intelligence feltsong that this “This royal throne of Kings” and British offerasneeded further insurance andand so Guyanese they devised Caribbean songs.

The concerts arranged a plan whereby theirfolk client Venezuela wouldwere threaten to for early evening so that children could attend; many Guyanese in later life have admitted that their first exposure to classical music was from these Bandstand concerts.

On Easter Monday thousands of kite-flyers turned out from five o’clock in the morning. Kites were all hand-made and were in a variety of shapes such as boxes, birds and snakes, but the predominant shape was the Guyanese octagon and in a variety of colours. Singing engines, a kite which made a loud droning sound, was one of the most popular.

Kite-flying was always combined with picnicking. The Easter kite-flying today is a pale reminiscence of the heyday.

As mentioned above, the political tensions and criminality kept people away from the Seawalls in the 1960s. By the invade Guyana if theremore wasstable any possibility of a Marxist 1990s life had become and people again began to government being installed in Guyana. frequent the Seawalls, but the ambience had changed. There Theup1899 Award hadofsettled the boundaries of grew stallsArbitral lining the parapet the Public Road from the Guyana and Venezuela and these boundaries were fully Kitty Pump Station to the Pegasus, selling refreshments and accepted bystalls bothwere parties and the communiall of these well-lit.

TheInternational character of the Seawalls ty.

One of the junior lawyers representing Venezuela had changed from a peaceful promenade to a lively fair. at the arbitration, MalletPrevost, left ais letter was not Now that the tourism industry beingthat revived, the toSeawalls have been after his death. In that letter, still opened offer anuntil attractive attraction. he claimed that the Arbitral Award was the result of an arrangement between Britain and the Russian arbitrator to deprive Venezuela of its rights. After more than half a century, Venezuela, based on Mallet-Prevost’s posthumous letter, now rejected the Arbitral Award and claimed twothirds of Guyana’s territory. Mallet-Prevost’s posthumous letter was the causus Venezuela used to threaten Guyana and this continued after the Cold War, the raison d’etre for the claim, had ended.

Most lawyers and historians who took any notice of Mallet-Prevost’s letter dismissed it as a historical curiosity or very flimsy evidence on which to attempt to upset a long-accepted Arbitral Award. But the Venezuelan politicians and the Venezuelan public gave credence and importance to Mallet-Prevost’s posthumous letter, which would have been dismissed in the modern world. But the Venezuelan politicians and public still live in the 19th century Napoleonic world where territorial conquests were regarded as acceptable and even heroic. In today’s world, this 19th-century ethic has been completely rejected.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Purple ribbons will not dismantle the patriarchy-your activism will

THIS month is International Women’s Month and women and men alike stand in solidarity to observe the contributions of women and girls across the world throughout history and in present times. Purple is the standard colour for women’s day and month and as such, persons would also wear that colour throughout the month to observe its significance. You’ll also find many women-empowerment rallies, forums and events. Persons would also use this month to colour their social media feeds with the colour purple and/or women-empowerment posts.

Purple Ribbons also symbolise the solidarity and stance we take with women across the world who are victims of

harassment, domestic violence and other violent crimes.

By now, you probably realise the direction in which this article is heading by reading the title, so why don’t we just dive right into it?

All of this is good. It’s great that there is a specific day and month that are dedicated to women and their contributions across the world. We deserve all of it. We deserve this but we also deserve much more. Women alongside their rights and responsibilities are still being challenged by traditional cultural and societal expectations. Thirty-five percent of all women globally have experienced some form of violence from their partners, an average of 137 women

are killed daily by a family member, 15 million adolescent girls worldwide (between the ages of 15-19) have experienced forced sex—these and many other statistics prove that there are bigger fishes to fry when it comes to women’s rights and issues.

These issues alongside a misogynistic collective culture, gender stereotypes, gender-based violence and abuse and even forced marriages in Guyana should be top-tier priorities. These statistics represent real women across the world with real issues. It’s saddening to even fathom that in this day and age, women in many countries are considered second-class citizens compared to men. The next time you consider to host another “purple event”, I’d like you to ask yourself this: “Who will be the beneficiaries of this event?” “Will I benefit from this or women in need?”

Surely enough, hosting a “purple event” is great, but if that’s your only path to social justice, then your activism is weak and quite frankly, lazy.

Are we really hosting these events because we are sure they will help women? Or, are these events the quickest and easiest route to get something done in time for Int’l Women’s Day? Is your activism solely based on show and tell? Political and legal reforms are still needed in Guyana.

The lack of addressing issues of intersectionality amongst women in Guyana is needed. The acknowledgement of how traditional Caribbean culture contributed to the oppression of women in Guyana is needed. More programmes and projects that promote the inclusivity of women and girls in all sectors of social life is needed. These implementations cannot be done in a day; they take years upon years.

These are macro-policy making agendas, but as an individual, your voice can be even more powerful than these. You may wear your Purple Ribbon to stand with women who have faced violence against men, but if you don’t report the crimes of your neighbour whenever you hear his wife cry when he’s beating on her, then wearing that ribbon was for nothing. If wearing purple clothes automatically made women equal to men, then I would gladly wear them every day for the rest of my life. So, don’t you think for a second that purple ribbons will get the job done. Sadly, it’s not that simple.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

Outstanding scholar comes from .... sued a career in banking with the ‘Toronto Dominion Bank’ to the level of staff supervisor, and lastly as a mortgage and loans adjudicator before retirement. The union produced two daughters in Karen and Amanda, who have combined to give their parents five grandchildren.

Ray Williams

FROM PAGE XX Exemplary Award.

Prior to leaving his homeland, then British Guiana in 1963, Ray worked as a clerk at Sandbach Parker & Company Georgetown. According to him, he went to Chicago, USA to further his studies. There he graduated with two degrees - Associate in Arts Degree from Central YMCA Community College in 1967 and in 1970 a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Roosevelt University majoring in Sociology, thereby launching his career covering the fields of law enforcement, race relations and multiculturalism.

Later he took to writing and travelling the world. In January 1970, Ray immigrated to Canada and settled in Toronto In an interview with Guyana Achievers in 2014, Ray said then that ‘through Aubrey’s encouragement and influence my artistic expression emerged in the form of woodcarving, after joining him at the ‘Working Peoples Art Group.’ This group was founded by Mr. E.R. Burrowes, the father of Guyanese art. I much later won a ballet scholarship for a year under the tutelage of Ballerina Helen Taitt, enabling me to better appreciate the varied arts.”

Ray was also involved in several extracurricular activities and according to him, sports held his passion during his teenage years. He was an active basketball player for the Ravens Basketball team and in 1960 accompanied the team on a goodwill tournament to Trinidad & Tobago, marking the first time he left the shores of Guyana. Football, fencing and gymnastics also held his interest. He also disclosed that for many years he was an altar boy at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, with a distant eye towards the priesthood.

Pointing out that he has made a handful of return trips to Guyana, Ray said his most recent was in 2014, accompanied by Teohna Williams, one of his English nieces, who wanted to visit his ancestral home. “Trips to the Kaieteur Falls (for which I wrote a poem in tribute, which was published on the Guyanese Achievers website, under poetry), Hosororo and Mabaruma, as well as New Amsterdam among others, fulfilled long-awaited dreams for her, as well as renewed my acquaintance with the Georgetown of my youth.”

Born in Georgetown Guyana on April 2, 1943, Ray Fitzgerald Williams was the youngest of seven siblings, including his late and only sister Pamela. His late father Walter Clarence Christopher Williams was a Guyana postal services supervisor. His late mother Mildred (nee Sobers) a former teacher turned housewife.

Ray’s wife Margaret, a Trinidadian by birth, pur-

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XXIV

Being a ‘Girl...

From Page II

She’s a leader. A goal-getter. Someone who understands that you can have anything, but not everything. Who gives it everything she’s got, and then some. She’s constantly inspiring and empowering others because of the example that she leads,” said Manifold.

She further said that being a girl boss is about being able to find a balance that enables a woman to climb the ladders of society while also knowing when to take a break and take care of herself. She added that one of the most important things a girl boss has to remember is to take ensure that she is recharged so that she can positively share and shape the world.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 14, 2021

“Prioritise and balance your life that time you take for yourself to rejuvenate is so important for your mental health.

And, learning to prioritise the main aspects of your life is critical for your success. A girl boss knows this and is a master at balancing the two so she gets an equal amount of dedication to both,” said Manifold.

She further stated that becoming her own boss as a woman came with its own hurdles, adding that without a good support system she would not have been able to follow her dream. She stated that at the beginning of her journey she did not dive headfirst into her business and did not realise the importance of making time, sharing ideas and how it would help her expand her business.

Owner of Kayawen Jewellery, Sheena Scipio

“My focus on my early businesses led to just me, me, me.

This was a lonely experience and it negatively affected me and my businesses. I’ve since changed and now continually make time for others. I look for opportunities to assist people and serve. This not only makes me feel better about myself but it helps my business,” Manifold said.

She reminded women to ensure to stay consistent and dedicated even through adversity, noting that they can make a significant level of impactful contributions that would have dedication and consistency will bring success. Stay the course and keep striving, even during the midst of adversity.

Use your voice President and Co-founder of VOICE-Guyana, Deanna Walcott, stated that since founding the Non-Governmental Organization she has been able to use her voice to amplify her advocacy for literacy, oracy, human rights and sexual and reproductive health among children and young people in society.

She further stated that women have always been pivotal parts of decision making that have often been overlooked and their contributions negated. This she said was one of the factors pushing her to continue working toward achieving her goal of not just launching an NGO, but being a representative of what women can achieve.

Walcott stated that if she could encourage other females she would tell them to “never stop reading or speaking because reading exposes us to new perspectives, thoughts and words. Then, speak whenever you have something to say because your thoughts are important and your voice matters.”

Owner of Kayawen Jewellery, Sheena Scipio added that men being at the helm of businesses and organizations is what is considered the norm, but that she believes that there is a significant feeling of pride that women get seeing that other women can break that mould.

She stated that while the journey is never easy she would advise other young women to remain strong, stay focused on their goals and continue being innovative.

Make dreams come true Wanda Campbell, owner of ‘Wonderfully Made’ and ‘Wonderful Creations’ echoed similar sentiments. She stated that she believes that since becoming an entrepreneur she has been able to difference to people’s, which has always been important to her and gives her life more exciting.

“Being a girl boss is important to me. It tells me that I can dream and make my dreams come true. That I have a purpose and it gives me confidence. My life has changed in many aspects. My appreciation for time and the fact that I wake up daily and I am able to make a difference in persons lives that use my product. It is a feeling of satisfaction,” said Campbell.

She advised other young women that in finding their place in society they should always strive to stand out and let their voice and impact be seen and heard, she reminded that hurdles are all a part of the journey but should never be a stop, adding that persistence and consistency are what every woman should ensure that exercise in their daily lives.

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THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN CONSERVATION

THERE are many things to boast about when we think about our homeland, Guyana. It is reported that as much as 87 percent of our land remains intact forest. Added to being the ‘Land of Many Waters,’ it is not surprising to hear of the amazing diversity and abundance of wildlife that can be found in our rainforests, mangroves, savannahs and freshwater habitats. No doubt you

sisters who have been the custodians of the lands they occupy. Their way of life has always given them a close relationship with the land and waterways around them.

The rainforests and rivers provide for their sustenance and livelihoods. Most importantly, their cultural beliefs and practices, based on traditional knowledge, have ensured the sustainable use of these resources. Traditional knowledge

vention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) has therefore been encouraging increased dialogues and involvement of Indigenous peoples in conservation planning and action.

In that light, Guyana has been working at various levels to ensure that we recognise the role our Indigenous peoples have played and continue to play in the management and conservation of Guyana’s natural

have heard about or visited one of our five Protected Areas – the Kaieteur National Park, the Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve, the Shell Beach Protected Area, the Kanuku Mountains Protected Areas or the Konashen community-owned conservation area? These areas have been recognised for being biodiversity hotpots and were deemed deserving of protection and management under the Guyana Protected Areas System.

When we think of conservation in Guyana – true, we think of our wildlife, protected areas, and even local agencies such as the Protected Areas Commission, the Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. However, there have always been champions for environmental conservation and protection. Over the past few decades, there have been increased efforts to recognise these champions; our Indigenous brothers and

refers to the knowledge, practices and innovations of Indigenous people, which were acquired over many years, being passed down from generation to generation. It is not static, but responds to the environment and evolves. It may take the form of practices, stories, songs, cultural values, beliefs/rituals, languages and community law.

The recognition of Indigenous peoples and the role that their traditional knowledge has had in managing and protecting the environment worldwide have been increasingly emphasised. Amazingly, most Indigenous communities are situated in areas where the vast majority of the world’s biodiversity are found. They have been managing the resources in these areas in a sustainable way for thousands of years.

Some of their practices have been proven to enhance and promote biodiversity at the local level and aid in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

The United Nations Con-

resources. For example, each of our Protected Areas is associated with several Indigenous communities. These communities are engaged in supporting the process of

managing these Protected Areas and their rights to the continued sustainable use of the resources within these areas are respected. At the same time, it is acknowledged by many Indigenous communities that some of their traditional knowledge is at risk of being lost. Efforts to safeguard traditional knowledge therefore need to be urgently addressed.

So what can be done?

Look out next week for a follow-up article to learn about a Darwin Initiative (UK-funded) project that has been promoting the inclusion of traditional knowledge at the national level.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit. epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Cauliflower AS Guyana continues to observe 2021 being International Year of Fruits and Vegetables as designated by the UN General Assembly, NAREI in Focus will be looking at cauliflower this week. Through this UN initiative, persons are being made aware of the important role of fruits and

vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health and as well in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals.

CAULIFLOWER is a member of the Cruciferae family that includes vegetables commonly grown here such as cab-

bage and pak choi.

Variety Two tropical varieties grown in Guyana are Farmer’s Extra Early and Maya.

Cultivation Grown in seedbeds/ trays and then transplanted at the four to five-leaf stage (one month) Transplanting is best carried out in the afternoon Spacing should be 60cm (2ft) between rows and 45cm (1 ½ ft) between plants within rows Can be grown on sandy or clay soil but does not tolerate acidic conditions Soil pH below 6.5 must be corrected by applying limestone at the recommended rate of at least six weeks before transplanting Water frequently but avoid wetting the leaves and apex of the plant, as this will encourage fungal infections Fertiliser Conduct soil test to determine fertiliser requirement Phosphate should be applied six weeks before transplanting Use 270kg of TSP per hectare (230 lb/acre).

A mixed fertilizer such as 15:15:15 should be applied a few days after transplanting. An approximate guide, apply 10g (2/3 of a tablespoon), 5cm away from the plant to avoid ‘burning’ the roots. Repeat this dose at two and four weeks after transplanting.

Higher rates may be needed for very light sandy soils and lower rates may be needed for pegasse soils rich in organic matter.

Too much nitrogen such as urea will encourage excessive leaf growth and delay plant maturity Disease Damping-off is caused by the Pythium Fungus and may be a problem at the early seedling stage.

Symptom: narrowing of the steam near the base of the seedling which quickly turns watery, causing it to collapse.

To reduce risk, avoid overwatering and ensure that that there is good drainage.

Chemical control can be achieved by spraying the bed with Aliette (Phos-al) (1 tablespoon per gallon) before See page XXVII

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Cauliflower From page XXVI ....

sowing.

Black Rot is a bacterial infection that first appears at the margins of the leaves. Later it may spread along veins and eventually, stems may turn black. Chemical control can be achieved by applying Trimiltox which has some bacterial action.

Leaf spot is a fungal infection that appears as dark spots on the leaves progressing to form lesions. It is a major problem during heavy rain. It can be reduced using chemical control by spraying with Trimiltox.

Pests Mole crickets can cause losses by biting through the stems shortly after transplanting. If mole crickets are a known problem, drench the soil in Diazanon (2 tablespoon per gallon) or Fastac (1 tablespoon per gallon) before transplanting.

Diamond Back Moth- The caterpillars of this moth can eat large proportions of the leaves and kill the plants at the early seedling stage. later in the season, when the plants are larger, a small amount of leaf damage will not harm the crop. Sprays such as Halt based on Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) are most effective against this pest and are less toxic to humans than other spray. Mix one teaspoon in a plastic bottle of water and shake well then add to one gallon of water in the sprayer.

Budworm (Heart worm)- This is also a caterpillar that kills young plants by feeding on the apex. Treatment is as for the Diamond Back Moth.

Harvesting Cauliflower is harvested between 50 and 80 days after transplanting depending on the variety. Allow the curd to reach full size but pick when it is still compact before the branches of the curd begin to separate. It is better to pick the head when it is slightly too small rather than wait for it to spoil. Cut below the head leaving a few leaves on to protect during transportation.

Nutrition As far as nutrition goes, cauliflower is high in vitamin C and a good source of folate. It’s fat-free and cholesterol-free and also is low in sodium content. Additionally, cauliflower contains only 25 calories in 1/6 of a medium head. This portion size also contains 2 grams of dietary fibre and only 5 grams of carbohydrate.

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MODFIN positive contribution WE are celebrating Women’s History Month and it feels great to be celebrating other women. I celebrate women and life all year, but it feels extra special during this month. I am inviting you to join me to celebrate Marcia Trotz. This young lady reminds me of her mom Monica Trotz, who is the founder of Modern Fashion and Finishing school (MODFIN), which was established in 1989 by Mrs. Trotz who is passionate about nurturing and grooming young girls into ladies and young boys into gentlemen. Modfin Salon hosted many exciting hair and fashion shows. Classic Ecentral Modelling Agency was under the Modfin brand and produced some of the top models in that era.

The beauty industry cer-

tainly missed Monica when she migrated to the United States because she was very proactive. Monica was a great mentor to her daughter Marcia whom she groomed to follow in her footsteps and become the manager of Modfin. Marcia now has over 25 years experience and always wanted to make a significant contribution to society. “[With] God by my side I can do anything I put my mind to. Modfin Salon and Beauty School continues working second generation; I say to myself I must continue my mom’s legacy to train and enhance young people. [“In]2014 I signed a contract with the government training institute to train and skill young single parents. I am a single parent.

I understand working and providing for your children alone without a husband to

help, so I enjoyed my single parents training programme then to present,” Marcia said.

In 2018, she decided to diversify Modfin Beauty Salon and add Spa name,(Modfin full service salon / spa & beauty school ) 1 have visited many times and the massages are excellent.

She is now training a batch of young males and females to master this craft and they

are doing exceptionally well.

She recommended one of her students to provide the massage service and needed my feedback. I was so impressed with the way the young man

person. I am a natural who always gives excellent results [and will] continue in being a role model, showing my students how to make sense of the world. Most of my

goal is to attract and retain customers and students. I love to make my own home remedies [and] products now.

During this pandemic there is a dramatic change in the

handled himself. Martin’s mannerisms and massage skills were superb. I met him a month ago when Marcia invited me to chat with her students about confidence and how important the mindset is. I asked him then how he was enjoying the course.

“This programme is making a difference in my life and Ms Marcia is a good teacher.

I am always willing to learn something new and meet new people. I am enjoying the interaction with the others and it feels like a family. I love messaging [SIC] very much from years ago and that was influenced by my father,“ Martin Giddings said. The students seem very excited to be given the opportunity to have a career to enhance their life chances I asked Marcia about the future of Modfin, especially in these challenging times.

“I was motivated by God and my mom because born into the beauty industry, I am continuing my mom’s legacy.

My main objective is to be a passionate, ambitious, driven, highly organised, people

students are not employed, so I open doors of opportunity.

After training, I always tell my students, they are managers. “I train them to Realise Who you are? Find what you are passionate about; I do self-assessment on my students to find their strength and weakness [sic], and I work on the areas they are mostly excelling most [sic].

They have to work and stay focused. I changed up my training skills from cosmetology school to beauty and finishing school; my school curriculum is mostly personal grooming skills & spa courses included different types of spa services. The beauty industry around the world is changing every year, most people need spa services than salon services, because people need to feel relaxed.

So now I focus mostly on spa trends.

“For my future, I envision for the beauty industry is to continue in my growth, continue to engage and motivate young people by giving them something to engage in. My most important future

future industry, I just have to wait and see where the world growth [is] leading; I must always be ready to go with the flow, always fit in because I am born to win.

With God’s help I am always sitting with royalty. Thank you Miss Sonia Noel for inspiring and motivated [sic] me to keep climbing higher and my parents for always supporting me.”

She is also helping young women like Toshanna Henry to climb and her testimonials indicated that. “Ms Marcia is a good teacher and [is] patient with me. These classes are great for me because they are helping me to grow. I always wanted to learn the techniques in massaging and this programme is exposing me to much more. I am learning to do facials, manicure and pedicure and I am grateful.

Let’s continue to support women like Marcia Trotz as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

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KNOWING NATIONS ....

FROM PAGE XVIII

that can be reached for, unhindered by slow internet, or, on one of those black-out days. Why this is important is because the ego of the nation is still valued by its imagination and expressions that inspire and urge citizens from other nations and cultures to empathise with its rhythms, colours, hype, suave and un-, or, pretentiousness. The title of this article, ‘Knowing nations by their arts and literature that we identify them is not completely factual across all levels of our human world. Some nations have established extremely bad behaviour in this and that arena, that even the industries of sometimes indirect propaganda edutainment is ineffective in shaping opposing identity icons, for example, the classic 15th-century book Don Quixote is not more likely how Spain will be referred to in a bar conversation, over Columbus and the Conquistadors. Germany is not the home of Beethoven and Goethe either, the competitive, best-known definition of that nation will reside with Adolph Hitler. India is best known for the Muslim Monument of the Taj Mahal first, and then Gandhi, all else is academic. America’s foreign policy exploits are far lower down the ladder than is the defining Influence of Michael Jackson, Malcolm X, rap music and Hollywood. Even the sordid characteristics of Donald Trump will not sustain a continuous group conversation or reference as would the mythos of the mentioned former.

Why this topic is important? Well, because the following references will provide the basis and answers if you haven’t alerted yourself to it already. Let’s take these four Caribbean family nations. Haiti is revered for two popular items in order-Voodoo and Toussaint L’Overture; Trinidad for Calypso, Steel Pan and Carnival unequalled among the Anglophone nations of the Americas.

Then there is Barbados – tourist beaches, a little England characteristic

and Rihanna, though with rights we claim the sister too.

Then Jamaica- Bob Marley, Reggae Music, strong Olympic teams and Rastafarianism. ‘NOW MY FELLOW CITIZENS’, our Guyana, the Magnificent Province, the latter is forgotten, in my travels. It was not difficult to come to terms with the fact that “Jones Town” seems to be the principal memory of Guyana in the mind of the common world citizen I met. A few older ones recall ‘To Sir with love’-some even thought that Sydney Poitier is Guyanese, for. which I reluctantly corrected them.

June 4, 2015, Stabroek News Joy Mahabir- State University of New York penned a letter “Guyanese culture is treated as source material for academics, film-makers and journalists.” The letter was an appeal based on facts that should have been adhered to, but the same was echoed continuously by local writers in the cultural realms here, and an adamant résistance on misrepresented narratives was penned in response, and a quiet, sombre no-man’s land existed on any engagement between creative practitioners and officialdom on the subject.

Even with Jones Town, our new world cultural identity tragedy, it was never interpreted on the dramatic stage using any medium, to define it one way or the other. It must be understood that for individual academics and industry researchers, they will of course find volumes of past and current Guyanese talents spread across the planet and at home. The essence of this discussion is not about our diverse volume of talents, but about a consistency of quality expression of self that resonates enough to evolve one of a national alter-ego on the world imagination, near and far, that we can on a statement or a melody, say “ yuh talking to me, about me, boss man? ”

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WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY ...

SEE PAGE XXI come a necessary adjunct to modern life. For example, disposable plastic bags and coverings are indispensable in commercial life or plastic plates, crockery and cutlery are necessary for fast-food or even restaurant industries.

The best that could be done is to curtail the use of plastics and this could be done in a variety of ways.

Such would include the

banning of single-use plastic bags or having a recycling plant. Or repairing or reusing plastic items.

Or to buy unpacked goods as, for example, household or cosmetic products. Or substituting other items with similar usage for plastics as using paper or cloth bags when shopping or choosing metal household equipment rather than plastic ones as buying

a metal clock than a plastic one. Government, the consumer community and the public have to steer the business community into using and adopting substitutes for plastic.

In working to effectuate the theme of WCRD, the seven Rs would be useful and these are: Reuse, Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Recycle, Repair and Replace.

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THOUGHT FOR TODAY If

I am not for m will be for me? yself, then who for myself only, But when I am then “I”? If not now, what am when?

If I am not for ot hers, what am I? And if not no w, when?

HILLEL ‘THE ELD ER’ (?70 B.C - A.D. 10?)

MARCH 14, 2021 STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, WELCOME, dear friend.

When you are practising to respond to examination type questions, a useful technique is to underline, after careful consideration, the most

important words, phrases or data in the question. What draws your attention to the exact meaning of the question is where the lines are drawn as against where the spaces between the lines occur. This technique lessens stress which can cause you to misread. Plan your answer out and manage time well.

Be wise.

Love you.

IMPROVING READING Drawing conclusions Your drawing of conclusions is an important reading tool especially as it aids comprehension of a text. When you are forming conclusions, you are really getting at the ultimate meaning of things – what is important, why it is important, how one event influences another, how one happening leads to another.

Simply getting the facts in reading is not enough, especially at this stage. You must think about what the facts mean to you. Conclusions require a deeper understanding than an inference and clues that are gathered across the text or over time.

We looked at inference last time we met. You move from inference to conclusion when you read carefully.

These two techniques are closely related.

Directions: Read and then answer questions 1-4.

Tasha: (pouting) I’m not going! I hate dances!

Liz: (sighing) But it wouldn’t be any fun without you.

Tasha: I’m not fun... (hopefully) Am I? Liz: (trying hard to be patient) You are when you stop thinking about yourself so much. (in a coaxing voice) Come on, there’s going to be a really good DJ ... (grinning) . You can wear my new sweater.

Tasha: (with a big smile) Really? Oh, all right. You talked me into it .... again. (with enthusiasm) Who else is going to be there?

Liz: Everybody! I knew you’d change your mind.

1. What can you conclude about Tasha?

A.. She hates dances.

D.. She dislikes Liz. B.. She depends upon Liz for assurance.

C. She has a lot of confidence.

2. What can you conclude about Liz? A.. She dislikes Tasha.

B.. She is Tasha’s good friend.

C.. She does not really want to go to the dance.

D.. She is not very persuasive.

3. What is the most logical conclusion about the type of situation between Tasha and Liz? A.. It has never occurred before.

B.. It will never occur again. D.. It occurs often.

C.. It has occurred only once before.

4. Which is the most logical conclusion?

A.. Tasha is looking for attention.

B.. Tasha is self-confident.

C.. Tasha is used to being the centre of attention.

D.. Tasha does not know how to dance well.

THE PASSAGE Excerpt There are night ghosts.

Some people say we can understand all things if we know them. But there came a dark night in the fall when I thought that was wrong, and so did the dogs....

I had been hard pressed to find new country for them...

This trail had ruts and mud and the cart was a mess... I spent some time replacing the bulb and tried a new battery, but that didn’t help.... The dogs were slamming into the harnesses, screaming to run, so I shrugged and jumped on the rig and untied it. Certainly, I thought, running without a head lamp would not be the worst thing I had ever done.

Immediately we blew into the darkness and the ride was madness. Without a lamp I could not tell when the rig was going to hit a rut or a puddle. It was cloudy and fairly warm – close to fifty – and had rained the night before. Without the moon or even starlight I had no idea where puddles were until they splashed me – largely in the face... Coupled with that, tree limbs I couldn’t see hit me as we passed, almost tearing me off the back of the frig. Inside an hour I wasn’t sure if I was up, down, or sideways.

And the dogs stopped.

They weren’t tired, not even a little, judging by the way they had been ripping

through the night, but they stopped dead.

I had just taken a limb in the face and was temporarily blinded. All I knew was that they had suddenly stopped, and I had to jam down on the brakes to keep me from running over them. It took me a couple of seconds to clear my eyes and when I did, I saw the light.

In the first seconds I thought it was another person coming toward me. The light had an eerie green-yellow glow. It was quite bright and filled a whole part of the night ahead, down the trail. It seemed to be glowing. It was in deep woods....

(From “Glow in the Dark” from WOODSONG by Gary Paulson.

About the story: The author, Paulson, was out with his dogs for a run with his cart at night after it rained the night before. He ran upon an electrical problem with his cart lights, and so continued his journey without them.

Then, some time into the mad ride, first his dogs were startled and then he himself, by a mysterious-looking glow deep down in the middle of the woods where nobody was supposed to be.

Suppose you were told that the light which created the excitement in both dogs and master emanated from a “six-foot-tall, old rotten stump with kits bark knocked off and glowing in the dark with a bright green glow.”

How would that meet you?

Points to Explore: 1.

Exactly why do you think the author was running his dogs in the middle of night? 2.

What real details emphasise that “the ride was madness”?

3. Explore the language of the writer and give about two other personal observations.

Look at his words for example: “immediately we blew into the darkness and the ride was madness.”.

4. Coin a short story from the understanding of the excerpt and this clip from the original passage: “It was a form. Not human. A large, standing form glowing in the dark.

The light came from within it, a cold-glowing green light with yellow edges that diffused the shape, making it change and glow...”

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Fighting gum disease DENTISTS globally have for decades been emphasising the vital role played by print communication in the fight to minimise dental caries and gum disease. The American Dental Association, of which this author is a member, currently distributes millions of pamphlets as part of an international oral health education programme. Extracts of one of these pamphlets constitute this article.

Now, 98 out of 100 Guyanese can read and understand this newspaper. We should be proud of this fact especially when we consider that we are more functionally literate than the majority of the world’s nations including Brazil and the United States. But despite this fact, we have not been taking full advantage of our fortuitous situation generally as regards health guidance and particularly, oral health education.

Daily brushing and cleaning between teeth are important to your dental health because they remove plaque. Plaque is a thin, colourless, sticky film that constantly forms on your teeth. When you eat foods containing sugars and starches, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with the teeth. After many such attacks, the enamel breaks down and a cavity forms.

If plaque is not removed with daily brushing, it eventually hardens into calculus (tartar). As calculus forms near the gum line, gums can become irritated and inflamed. They become swollen and may bleed. The gums begin to pull away from the teeth and form pockets that usually become infected. If gum disease is not treated properly, the bone supporting the teeth is destroyed and healthy teeth may be involved.

It may surprise you to know that 50 percent of adults over the age of 18 and 75 per cent of adults over the age of 35 have some degree of gum disease. It is never too early to start fighting back. Your dental team can remove calculus from your teeth and treat gum disease that has already appeared. But daily dental care is in your hands.

Brushing removes plaque and food particles from the inner, outer and biting surfaces of your teeth. Several different methods are acceptable. One acceptable method for removing plaque is as follows.

Place the brush at an angled position to the gums. Gently move the brush back and forth in short (half a tooth-wide) strokes. Brush the inner tooth surfaces followed by the chewing surfaces. Use the ‘toe’ of the brush for the inner front tooth surfaces. Do not forget the posterior faces of the last molars. Finally, brush your tongue.

For general use, select a brush with soft, end-rounded or polished bristles. The size and shape of your toothbrush should allow you to reach every tooth. Worn-out toothbrushes cannot properly clean your teeth and may injure your gums. Once the bristles start to turn backwards, it is time to change the brush. Usually, this occurs after three to four months of use.

One way to clean between the teeth is with dental floss.

Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between teeth and the gum line areas a toothbrush cannot reach. The following suggestions may help to learn about flossing.

Break off about eighteen inches and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the other hand. This finger will take up the floss as it is used. Hold the floss tightly between your thumb and first finger with about an inch of floss between

them. Use a gentle, “sawing” motion to guide the floss between your teeth.

Hold it against your tooth, scraping the other side of it, as you guide it gently beneath the gum line.

If none other is, this article is worth cutting out and keeping for constant reference.

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